Film Preview: Penn State’s offense runs through Sean Clifford, Manny Diaz’s new look defensively
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 Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Ohio State will be facing a familiar foe offensively against Penn State, but the new-look defense may provide some challenges for the Buckeyes.

The James Franklin-led Penn State Nittany Lions are hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend. They are still led by Sean Clifford at quarterback, but the Nittany Lions are the most talented roster Ohio State has played to date. For all of his downfalls, Franklin has built a roster that has been able to challenge the Buckeyes regularly.

Penn State has consistently given the Buckeyes some of their toughest matchups, with the last six meetings all being decided by 11-points or less. Franklin has tried to modernize his offense with the hiring of Mike Yurcich, but has been unable to field a consistent run game. This has led to a reliance on quarterback Sean Clifford, which surmises to say that the results have been inconsistent.

On defense, Penn State was tasked with replacing the long-tenured defensive coordinator Brent Pry. Pry was a significant part in the success Penn State has had over recent years in slowing down the Buckeyes. Now, former Miami head coach Manny Diaz has brought his high pressure defense to State College. The difference in philosophy has led to mixed results, and Diaz will need to have his team organized if they want to have any chance of slowing down Ohio State.

Offense


The Penn State offense starts and stops with how Clifford plays. His inconsistencies as a passer have defined the last four years of the Penn State football program, and will once again take center stage against the Buckeyes in Happy Valley.

Prior to Penn State’s matchup against Michigan, the Nittany Lion offense had found some balance behind their running backs. Freshman Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen came on to the scene early in the year as effective running backs, but as of late the run game has not risen to the levels many around Penn State foresaw. Ohio State has been successful in stopping the run this year, so once again this matchup will come down to Clifford’s quarterback play.

Clifford as a passer

Mike Yurcich knows his quarterback has limitations as a passer, and this has led to a lot of throws across the middle of the field. Penn State utilizes shallow crossers, dig routes, and post routes more than most teams. Last season, Penn State found success attacking the middle of Ohio State’s defense, and this will be the case once again.

In the first play, Penn State is in a 3rd-and-9 situation against Minnesota. They split out their tight end into the slot, and Minnesota has him uncovered with the safety being used as a blitzer. This gives the tight end a free run up the seam, and once he clears the linebackers, Clifford delivers a strike. His comfortability is high on these throws, and this is a common place of attack for Penn State’s offense.


Penn State’s offense is not scared to take shots down field, and Clifford does have the arm strength to push the ball outside the numbers. The last two seasons Penn State hasn’t found success passing downfield against the Buckeyes with Jahan Dotson on the roster. The issue is Clifford is inconsistent at best throwing the ball deep.

Penn State has talented wide receivers, but they are not utilized consistency because of the level of Clifford’s play. In the next clip we see the athleticism and speed Penn State has at the receiver position. They are lined in a “Doubles - Stack” formation, meaning one receiver is on top of the other. This will be a challenge for Ohio State’s safeties and corners when it comes to communication pre-snap about which receiver to take. Penn State’s receiver gets separation, and Clifford drops the ball outside.

With the struggles of the cornerbacks for Ohio State this season, expect Penn State to try to take some shots early.


Now, for every throw Clifford makes like the one in the previous example, there is one like the play below. Penn State is in a critical 4th-and-6 situation down seven points in the second half against Michigan. Clifford has a receiver open at the first down marker, but he throws the corner route, which also breaks open. The coverage is close enough to impact the receiver, but the ball is overthrown. In the early parts of the game, Clifford has been sharp most of his career, but once the game matters the Sean Clifford below is the one that usually shows up.


QB Run Game

Now, Ohio State fans might get salty at the amount Clifford gets involved in the running game, and I can already hear the echoes of people saying, “This is why Stroud needs to pull the ball every once in a while.”

Clifford needs to add this element to the game because his throwing ability is inconsistent. This added dynamic makes defensive coordinators have to always account for Clifford as a runner. In the play below, Penn State runs a read option off of their inside zone concept. Michigan overcommits their defenders to stopping the running back, and Clifford is athletic enough to rip off a big gain on the ground.

If Ohio State doesn’t remain disciplined in reading their keys and maintaining their responsibilities in run fit, Penn State can use Clifford’s legs to hurt them.


Run game behind running backs

Earlier in the season, freshman running back Nick Singleton had a few huge performances. Since entering conference play, the run game has not been nearly as dynamic, averaging 4.8 yards in the last two games with a season-low 2.9 yards per carry against Michigan.

When the Penn State run game is having success, their zone run schemes are reliant on the offensive line reaching the second level. This is a common indicator of success for many run games.

In the first play, Penn State’s tight end is lined up as an H-Back. The tight end lead blocks through the hole and gets the linebacker at the second level. This lead block opens up a running lane, leading to a nice gain. The offensive line does a great job of getting to their spots and staying on their responsibilities in this play as well.


When the run game is not going well, the theme is similar to Ohio State’s issues – the offensive line gives up interior penetration to the defensive line. Penn State is trying to use their Outside Zone concept to get the first in a 3rd-and-5 situation. Minnesota’s defensive line is able to eat up the double teams, creating congestion in the backfield. This allows the linebacker to flow aggressively, and with the defensive line eating up blockers, the linebacker is able to make the play in the backfield.

Defense


New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has brought in an entirely new identity. The more reserved and responsibility-oriented Brent Pry was able to limit Ohio State offensively by owning gaps and not giving up big plays. Diaz is the opposite. He brings a lot of pressure in any situation and will gamble to try to make big plays defensively.

Diaz had success against overmatched opponents, like Auburn and Minnesota with their back up quarterback. Michigan is more talented than both of those teams, and they took advantage of the aggressive philosophy of Diaz. By winning at the line of scrimmage, the Wolverines were able to run the ball at will. This will be a huge test for the Buckeyes, because if they can run the ball effectively, that sets up their play-action pass which can really do some damage if Penn State chooses to bring pressure.

Blitzing

Getting into the pressure that Penn State likes to bring, the Nittany Lions defense is willing to blitz any position. They bring safeties, corners, and linebackers on any down and distance, and this creates opportunities for the offense. If Stroud can identify where blitzes are coming from early, this will allow him to adjust protections to attack the areas the blitzers leave vacant.

In the first play, Penn State is lined up straight alignment wise and in Cover-1. Diaz uses a 4-2-5 similarly to Ohio State and Jim Knowles, so this is a look the Ohio State offense has seen a lot. Penn State’s boundary safety is aligned as a player just outside the box and he shows he is blitzing before the snap of the ball. Penn State also runs a “twist” with the interior defensive linemen. The blitz is picked up by Michigan and so is the twist, but this is exactly the type of blitzing action Diaz loves to use to create confusion on the offensive line.


In the next play, Penn State is showing a max pressure. When the ball is snapped, Penn State drops their two backers back into coverage, rushing only five including a safety who walks up late. They once again bring a looping defender into the middle of the rush, but all the movement pre-snap creates confusion for the offensive line in their blocking assignments. The initial rushes do not get home, but they are able to overwhelm the Minnesota offensive line, getting a sack.


For Penn State their pressure aids their coverage, and if the pressure doesn’t get home the coverage falls apart. This is a dangerous balance, especially against a team like Ohio State who has receivers who can dominate matchups in man-coverage and is well-coached enough to attack areas of zone coverages.


Against the run

Michigan laid the blue print for the Buckeyes to attack Penn State’s defense in the run game. The Wolverines’ running backs used outside and wide zone schemes to break off some long runs. Ohio State is still predictable running the ball, but the schemes the Buckeyes run have had proven success against Penn State.

In the first play, Michigan is running a pin-and-pull concept to the boundary. Michigan’s pinners close off the defensive linemen well, giving the pullers a clear path to get out to the next level. The pullers kick out the Penn State defenders and create a running lane all the way to the end zone. If Ohio State can get their offensive linemen moving and up to the second level, they will have a bounce back performance running the ball.


Once again, Michigan is on the right hash and they choose to run into the boundary with the same pin-and-pull concept. This is an example that shows Ohio State doesn’t need to be complicated. They can run their main concepts and have success. Ohio State has regularly used the pin-and-pull concept this year, but the Buckeyes have mainly used their wide zone to the boundary. Once again, Michigan shows how movable Penn State can be, and another running lane is made by the offensive line that gets the running back to the sticks untouched.


Penn State is a solid, well-coached football team, and on the road will provide a challenge for Ohio State this weekend. This is a huge game for the Buckeyes, and they will have to come into this one prepared for the kitchen sink to be thrown at them.

The Penn State offense is heavily reliant on the success of quarterback Sean Clifford. When Clifford is throwing the ball well and running the ball with a purpose, the offense moves and can put some points on the board. In the run game, Singleton has played well and the duo he forms with Allen has been potent. The issues arise when the run game disappears and Penn State needs Clifford to take over. If Ohio State can take the running game out of the picture, the Penn State offense will be in for a long day.

Defensively, Penn State has been a consistent group this season outside of one contest. Ohio State will have to be prepared for Penn State’s defense to bring a lot of pressure. The Buckeyes will need to remain balanced to keep the Nittany Lions at bay, and allow for the play-action to get set up. If the Buckeyes pass protection holds up, Ohio State should take advantage of the aggressive nature of the Manny Diaz Penn State defense.

For the Buckeyes, coming out of the gate hot and not letting the home stadium get involved will be the first task. If the Buckeyes can get settled early, win the line of scrimmage, and force Sean Clifford into mistakes, the Buckeyes should have a successful day in Happy Valley.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 27, 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


Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

LGHL Asks: How did you feel about Iowa win? What’s your score prediction against Penn State?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Practice Report: Focused Buckeyes locking in on trip to Penn State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Big Ten’s 2023 football schedule: What’s changed, key dates
Scott Dochterman and Audrey Snyder, The Athletic

Cade Stover Calls Ryan Day “The Guru of All Football” as Seven Buckeyes Preview Upcoming Road Game at Penn State
Garrick Hodge, Eleven Warriors

Ohio State’s Complete 2023 Schedule Is Here:


Ohio State’s 2023 football schedule: Three thoughts on a road-heavy slate (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Early thoughts on newly-released Buckeyes 2023 schedule (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Tommy Eichenberg Named Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week for Performance Against Iowa
Dan Hope, Eleven Warrior

Buckeyes to face top collection of skill position talent at Penn State
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch

Penn State Defensive Players to Watch: CB Joey Porter Jr., S Ji’Ayir Brown
Josh Dooley, Land-Grant Holy Land

Healthy Cameron Martinez looking to carve out a role on Buckeyes’ defense (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Guess which is the only Big Ten team that doesn’t play a Power 5 team in the non-conference...


You’re Nuts: What player is most likely to surprise us on Saturday?
Matt Tamanini and Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land

Iowa game showed the very good of C.J. Stroud, but also where the Ohio State QB still needs to improve
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

How Lathan Ransom, Tanner McCalister helped lead Ohio State defensive turnaround (paywall)
Tim May, Lettermen Row

Listen to Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, and Kevin Wilson talk about Penn State:


Column: Could Ohio State play for a different kind of trophy in the Big Ten Championship
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Dennis Dodd’s Power Rankings: Ohio State New No. 1, Face Biggest Test Saturday
Dennis Dodd, CBSSports

Big Ten stat leaders through Week 8
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Doesn’t bode well for the Gophers and Boilermakers...

On the Hardwood


‘Ice’ Likekele brings charisma, charity with him to Ohio State (paywall)
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

2022-23 Ohio State Basketball Team Draft: Picking Lineups from the New-Look Roster for a Head-to-Head Matchup of Buckeyes vs. Buckeyes
Dan Hope and Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Women’s Basketball: Greene Back and Ready to Return for Buckeyes
Caleb Blake, The Lantern

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Soccer: No. 13 Buckeyes Undefeated at Home with 2-1 Win vs. MSU
Ohio State Athletics

‘It saved me’: Enokk Vimahi grateful OSU emphasizes mental health
Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch

The women’s volleyball team capped off a three-set sweep of TTUN with a replay review:


Women’s Golf: McGinty Earns Big Ten Golfer of the Week Honors
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different...


Well, that’s embarrassing...


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Bucketheads Podcast: Secret scrimmage season, pre-season Final Four picks, and more
justingolba 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

Ohio State lost their secret scrimmage. Naturally, we should act like the sky is falling.

‘Bucketheads’ is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. Every episode they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in the college hoops world.

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


First of all, a sincere thank you to everyone that listens to the podcast from us at Bucketheads as this was our 50th episode. It truly means a lot to us. and we hope you will continue with us and we learn and try to make this show better and better.

In this episode, we talked about the secret scrimmage the Buckeyes had against Wake Forest and our takeaways from it (or lack thereof).

We also give our Final Four picks and why we picked who we did (basically, why Justin chose Virginia and what Connor sees in TCU). We closed by drafting teams made up of Big Ten players.

Be sure to like, comment, rate and review the podcast and check out our episode last week with the Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy!


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

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Ohio State picks up Crystal Ball for 2024 top-100 wide receiver
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Grace Brennan | 247Sports

Also, the No. 1 WR in the 2024 class canceled his visit to Ann Arbor for this weekend.

If there’s a position on Ohio State’s roster that’s recruiting at the highest level, it’s the receiver spot. Thanks to position coach Brian Hartline and the overall offensive success, the Buckeyes are recruiting the nation’s best year in and year out, and winning those battles more times than not. Fortunately, the current trend of recruiting success for Ohio State doesn’t look to be stopping any time soon.

Latest Crystal Ball movement


Looking ahead to the 2024 class, the Buckeyes again look to be well on their way to another great haul at receiver. While Ohio State can afford to be pretty picky in the cycle for their top targets thanks to the depth on the current roster, Hartline and crew look to already have their eyes set on a few top players. Likely to take two and at most three guys, there’s already a few names that seem to be in the thick of it regarding Ohio State. The good news: one of those names saw some serious momentum in the Buckeyes’ favor on Wednesday.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball isn’t the end all be all, but it’s a tool that provides insight to a specific recruitment, and yesterday’s submission by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts towards Ohio State is one that should be taken seriously. On the receiving end, four-star Tyseer Denmark was pegged to the Buckeyes, and that’s definitely one of the receivers that the staff is going to be in on until he makes his decision.

The No. 97 player nationally, Denmark is the 16th-best receiver in the class and the second best player in Pennsylvania, per the 247Sports Composite. Another top receiver out of PA, the Buckeyes are pretty used to swooping in and taking the guys rival Penn State would love to have. Yet again in the 2024 class, Ohio State looks to be well on their way to that same feat. At any rate, an addition like this only makes sense when you consider Ohio State holds the pledge of the nation’s top-ranked quarterback, Dylan Raiola.

A top target cancels visit to see the TUN


Sticking with the trend of top 2024 receivers Ohio State is going after, there’s not a name more important than Florida’s Jeremiah Smith. The No. 2 player nationally, Smith is the top receiver in the 2024 cycle and the top player from his home state as well, according to the 247Sports Composite.

What would be the highest-rated receiver Ohio State has ever landed, Smith currently has multiple 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions to his name, and all of them favor the Buckeyes. While there’s still a way to go in his recruitment before anything is final, Wednesday was a positive sign in regards to Smith’s visit plans.

Originally scheduled to be in Ann Arbor this weekend, Smithh took to Twitter yesterday evening to share that he would not be making the trip to Michigan. Whatever the reasoning behind the canceled visit, Ohio State has to love their top target not checking in on their biggest rival. Again, the Crystal Ball has the Buckeyes very much out in front, and thanks to the efforts from Hartline, this recruitment could just be a matter of time before another elite pass catcher is in the fold for Ohio State.


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LGHL Asks: How did you feel about Iowa win? What’s your score prediction against Penn State?
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/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.

Every day for the entirety of the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.

We thought it would be the season opener against Notre Dame. It wasn’t. We thought it would be the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. It also wasn’t. Nor was it the first road game of the season against Michigan State, nor last week’s matchup with Iowa.

So, will this coming Saturday on the road in Happy Valley provide the No. 2 Buckeyes with their first legitimate test of the college football season? We will find out in less than three days.

But, in the meantime, there are some other things that we want to find out, including your thoughts on a few post-Iowa topics and your score predictions for Saturday’s game against the Nits. So, share your thoughts in the survey and comments section below.

Question 1: After the 54-10 victory over Iowa, what was your general feeling about the game?


There are two answers to this multiple-choice question that stick out to me, but I will save my specific thoughts until after y’all have the chance to answer, as I don’t want to be accused of inappropriately influencing the voting public. But, when you peruse Twitter during an Ohio State football game, you see all types of different options.

Sometimes, they make me realize how many smart people there are online, and others remind me of how many moronic people there are online. But in fairness, in both situations, I am often reminded by just how many fun people there are on that otherwise horrendous bird ap.

I saw all four of these opinions in heavy rotation on Saturday, so I am interested to hear where you came down.

Question 2: What do you think about Jaxon Smith-Njigba limping off the field?


Two things seem pretty clear to me:

1) Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to get back on the field as soon as possible.

2) He’s not 100% healthy.

The first statement is pretty obvious to anyone watching, since he appeared to be in the ear of both Ryan Day and Brian Hartline all game with his helmet on trying to get back into the game. The second statement was also obvious given that he was clearly hobbled as he exited the field in the first half.

Day has downplayed the potential injury all week, saying that JSN not reentering the contest because his snaps were being limited. Of course, that probably was true to an extent, and obviously, the Buckeyes didn’t ultimately need him to win, but given the secrecy that Ohio State operates under in terms of injuries, I don’t have a really good idea as to whether the limping that we saw was just a momentary issue following a specific hit, or if it is something that could continue to linger.

I am confident that Smith-Njigba is going to continue to push to be on the field, I just hope that he doesn’t do so to the detriment of the team or himself (either short-term or long-term).

Question 3: How many points do you think Ohio State will score against Penn State?


Currently, the DraftKing Sportsbook betting odds for this game have Ohio State as a 15.5-point favorite and the total-points number at 61. So, if you do the math on that, Vegas is projecting the Buckeyes to win somewhere in the neighborhood of 38 to 23. Again, not to unfairly influence the voting, but I think oddsmakers and analytics have been undervaluing the Buckeye offense all season. So, I’m not saying, I’m just saying...........

Question 4: How many points do you think Penn State will score against Ohio State?


This will be interesting for me. The Nits aren’t exactly a prolific offense, but they’re solid — they’re 49th nationally in total offense. However, they should be able to do some things that the Buckeyes haven’t had to contend with yet this year.

they average 178.43 rushing yards and 245.1 passing yards per game; again, neither are incredibly impressive, but when combined with a defense that allows just 18.9 points per game, it stacks up to a formidable test — at least on paper.

I’m still not sure exactly what to make of James Franklin’s team, and part of me thinks they are more paper tigers than Nittany Lions, but what do you think?


Have your voice heard and share your thoughts on the Buckeyes here:


Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State Buckeyes fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate.

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So for referee we have lived at our current house for over 7 years. Doing the same things from them till now.

Today I was cleaning up leaves and had a bunch of piles by the driveway. We have a shared driveway with our neighbors that they own the drive coming in and going back to their house and we have an easement to our drive. There are woods all around us, so leaves come from everywhere and there are woods on all sides of us and across the driveway.

I had to stop and do some things for work and I noticed the neighbor lady came down and get her garbage can and I assume saw the leaf piles piles. Between the time she came down and her husband came home from work, I had cleaned it all up and blew leaves off the driveway and edges into a bunch of different wooded areas.

Last winter this neighbor lady bitched at me for taking the dogs a little ways down the driveway during the winter to go potty. Again it’s a woods and I was no where near their place.

So, tonight she comes down and starts bitching at me about blowing leaves into their woods. I asked her what the hell her problem was. She told me that me blowing leaves on the their property broke their water system vault this summer. This is total BS. I said what, these leaves and limbs come from everywhere and your husband blows them over there too. Of course snow clearing never goes over this water system vault! Bitch is clueless.

Luckily my wife was there and came out and started talking too her. I told her she was fucking nuts and needed to leave. My wife asked her if we could talk with her husband but she wouldn’t answer. My wife told her that he is more reasonable than her and she would walk back to their house and talk with him. She also told her we have never had issues in 30 years of owning houses with any neighbors. She wouldn’t talk with us about talking to her husband.

My wife told her I think you have issues as she left.

I told my wife they will probably trump up some sort of shit and try to sue us for something. Waiting for the letter.

LGHL Uncut Podcast: Day, Knowles, Wilson talk injuries, Penn State game plan
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



They also talk about some changes at different position groups.

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 this episode of “Land-Grant Holy Land Uncut,” we have audio from Tuesday afternoon’s football press conference that featured Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. The trio recapped last weekend’s Iowa game and provided insights into this coming Saturday’s game against Penn State.

Day discussed why they don’t script the opening drive on offense and how opposing defenses going against tendencies can impact playcalling. He also provides an update to the health of the running back room with TC Caffey being ruled out for the remainder of the season and what that means for Chip Trayanum and Palaie Gaoteote IV.

The defensive coordinator talks about the health and performance of cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock and what they should be able to bring to the game this weekend.

Finally, Wilson talks about what Iowa did to slow down the running game and what the offense needs to do better against PSU this weekend to prevent that from happening again.

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


Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

Music by: www.bensound.com

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You’re Nuts: What player is most likely to surprise us on Saturday?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

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

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

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

Today’s Question: What player is most likely to surprise us on Saturday?

Jami’s Take: Denzel Burke


Cornerback Denzel Burke has had a rough season so far, but that hasn’t deterred the coaches from reiterating time and again how much confidence they have in him and how talented he is.

We know the talent is there – he was OSU’s top cover cornerback in his breakout 2021 freshman season. But until now, Burke has been hampered by injuries – first in the preseason and then a hand injury right before conference play. As you can probably guess, a hand injury for a corner is enough to scare anyone this Halloween weekend.

But Burke’s cast was off against Iowa, and both Ryan Day and Jim Knowles have continued to stand behind him, expressing how competitive he is and how much respect they have for his grit in the face of his setbacks.

Saturday’s game against No. 13 Penn State will be his chance to prove it. Don’t call it a comeback, but if you’re going to turn things around after an up and down start, a huge road game against a ranked opponent would be a good time to do so. Keep an eye on Burke to come out of the rut and surprise the naysayers who claim last season was a fluke.

Burke’s hand injury has caused him to struggle with man-to-man coverage on receivers, something that will be critical if we’re going to beat the Nittany Lions on Saturday.

But whether we’ve played football or not, how many of us have stepped up in life when it really mattered because someone we admired had faith in us? Day and Knowles have continued to support and encourage him, and I think they believe he will pull things off on Saturday. So why shouldn’t we? Neither have led us astray so far this season.

The beauty of a scattered first half is that Burke has nowhere to go but up. And he has proven he’s capable – last season didn’t seem like a blip, where the guy was just playing out of his mind in a way that can’t be replicated. No – it reflected consistency, focus. And those are the traits that help someone come out of a slump.

Knowles has been vocal about the fact that Burke has shown tremendous grit despite a challenging injury and that he stands by the fact that Burke deserves to work through those challenges. And Day has mentioned that Burke’s been on top of the plays but has struggled to finish the job this season, and that’s where they’ve been focusing. He’s almost there so much of the time, but we know almost isn’t good enough against a ranked opponent – it’s not even good enough against the likes of lesser teams.

Now, against the Nittany Lions, I expect he’s going to zero in and make sure the job gets done. He certainly has the confidence of his coaches and teammates behind him.

Injuries can be fickle, so all of this is assuming his hand is really back to normal and that he won’t hold back in fear of re-injury. But the Buckeyes lack depth at cornerback, and Cam Brown will likely be out again. So the pressure is on for Burke to step up, and I believe he has the drive to prove to himself, his coaches, his teammates, and the rest of us plebeians what he is really capable of.

Matt’s Take: Miyan Williams


I suppose the answer to this question depends on your definition of surprise. Given his level of production this year, I don’t think it is necessarily going out on a limb to say that Miyan Williams could have a big game during any given week. However, considering that he missed the Michigan State game due to injury and then after an off week, only managed 19 yards on 10 carries against Iowa, picking him to break out against the Nits does feel a bit adventurous.

But, when you take a look at PSU’s only loss of the season — a 41-17 drubbing at the hands of TTUN — the Weasels’ running backs absolutely dominated the game. While Blake Corum was steady — going for 166 yards on 28 carries — it was Donovan Edwards who stole the show, ripping off 10.8 yards per carry for 173 yards. Both backs were added by 60+ yard runs.

Now, Edwards and Williams are two very different backs, but they do have something fairly similar in common, their yards per carry average. Technically, Miyan leads the Big Ten with a 6.97 average, but Edwards is averaging 7.1 yards, though he doesn’t have enough carries on the year to officially qualify.

The Nits’ secondary is very good, and while I don’t think that there is a team outside the NFL that can completely shut down the Buckeyes’ passing game, I do think that they will be able to stymie them more than anyone else thus far this season.

So, on the assumption that Williams — and TreVeyon Henderson — are healthy for Saturday’s game, I can envision Ryan Day leaning heavily on the running game. Penn State is 10th in the conference in terms of rushing yards allowed per game at 140.29 — although their pass defense is only ninth in the league at 232.9.

The Hawkeyes completely shut down the Buckeye running game by loading the box in an effort to not give quarterback C.J. Stroud enough time to get through his progressions, and it worked in the first half. I don’t imagine that PSU will go that far, because of their talent on the backend. So, I imagine that the OSU backs will have a bit more room to run than they did last week, and given what we’ve seen from Chop in the past, he’s probably angry about his production last week, and opposing defenses wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.

Far be it for me to ever thank the Corn and Blue for anything, but I think that the Harboys might have just given the Buckeyes a roadmap to beating their Big Ten East rivals this week.

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Penn State Defensive Players to Watch: CB Joey Porter Jr., S Ji’Ayir Brown
Josh Dooley 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

This dynamic DB duo has not quite turned PSU’s secondary into a no-fly zone, but individually, they are among the best in the country at their respective positions.

As Ohio State prepares to step into the lion’s den that is Happy Valley, they should be keenly aware that Penn State’s defense is once again a formidable unit. Since 2016, the Nittany Lions have finished outside the top-25 in scoring defense just once, and that could be attributed to the awkward, pandemic-shortened 2020 season. They currently sit at No. 20, allowing 18.9 PPG.

Credit to new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, as many (this guy) questioned his ability to pick up where former DC and current Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry left off. Some coaches are simply meant to be coordinators, and perhaps Diaz is one of them. Sidebar: Remember when Diaz was the HC at Temple for 15 minutes? Tough beat for the Owls, but perhaps to the benefit of former OSU running backs coach Stan Drayton.

At any rate, Diaz has the PSU defense playing fairly well, despite the losses of Ellis Brooks, Brandon Smith, Jaquan Brisker, Arnold Ebiketie, and others. Those players helped the Nittany Lions finish 7th in PPG allowed last season, with shutouts of both Indiana and Rutgers. One could have expected a drop-off in performance, but new faces have stepped up, and the elite secondary has maintained their high level of play.

That secondary is a true difference-maker, and because I could not single out just one of the group’s leaders, I was forced to call an audible. Both Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’ayir Brown are among the best individual players in college football at their respective positions.

Combined, this cornerback/safety duo is up there with any other duo in the country — and perhaps better than all of them. They have shared the field since 2020, and each really began to elevate their game(s) during the 2021 season. They have now become leaders, and are showing their eventual replacements the way. Porter Jr. and Brown have played too well for too long (together), so it did not feel right to break them up in a column. They are this week’s first ever co-Defensive Players to Watch.

Starting with Porter Jr. at CB, this son of former NFL All-Pro Joey Porter should also find himself playing on Sunday(s) sooner than later. And don’t just take it from me, because you can find many glowing reviews from both NCAA and NFL talent evaluators. Blessed with Richard Sherman-esque size and above average speed, he has all the physical attributes of a future lockdown corner in the pros — in addition to a tremendous work ethic, according to PSU coaches. But oddly enough, if you only looked at box scores, you would never understand the hoopla surrounding this fourth-year defensive back.

Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

That is because Porter Jr. is not a traditional stat guy. In 30 career games for the Nittany Lions, he has only has one interception! Even more surprising, is that he has “only” been credited with 20 pass breakups according to sports-reference, but 11 have come this season. The Thorpe Award candidate tallied 6 PBU during the first three weeks alone.

That pace has slowed, as teams are hesitant to throw in his direction, but his impact on PSU’s defense is still palpable. Similar to OSU’s Jeff Okudah, Porter Jr. does not need to intercept passes to make his presence known (or felt). He is able to blanket one side of the field by himself and/or handcuff the opponent’s top receiver, forcing those teams to play offense with only 50-75 percent of the field available to them.

Porter Jr. will now be tasked with the unenviable chore of covering Ohio State wide receivers. And he is likely to face two, three, or four of them throughout Saturday’s game. Because at 6-foot-2, the Penn State CB is an outside/boundary player. He is perfectly capable of going over the middle, but he rarely (if ever) sees the slot. That could ultimately work to the Buckeyes’ advantage, as I believe all of their WR can operate efficiently from the slot if called upon. But Porter Jr. will have an impact, there is no doubt in my mind. He will make life just a little more difficult for C.J. Stroud and his receivers, and may even be a constant thought in the back of the OSU QB’s mind. He is that good.

The other star in this PSU secondary is safety Ji’Ayir Brown. Originally an underrated recruit and two-year JuCo player, he worked his way up to the FCS level and has been a dynamic playmaker for James Franklin’s team. Unlike Porter Jr., Brown has been able to capitalize on his opponents’ mistakes more often. And that is not to say he is a better player, but as a center fielder of sorts, he is able to play over the top and break on passes with regularity. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021, Brown has racked up an impressive nine INT and eight PBU.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The safety is in his third season with the Nittany Lions, but rarely saw meaningful snaps in 2020. He then broke out in a major way last year, totaling 73 tackles and six INT. He also added one forced fumble and two recoveries. It was a bit of a surprise given Brown’s college career prior to 2021, but many players develop as “late bloomers”. And if you knew anything about him coming out of the JuCo ranks, you might have even expected this. Because the 5-foot-11, 208 pound playmaker snatched eight interceptions while at Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, PA (shoutout Dunder Mifflin and world’s best boss, Michael Scott).

Thus far in 2022, Brown has accumulated 41 tackles and three INT, leading the team in both. He is the plain clothes officer inside the club to Porter Jr.’s outside security. Meaning, if you make it past one, you still have to deal with the other. The two DB’s have really only contributed to one subpar performance (collectively) this season, and that came against Purdue in Week 1, when the Nittany Lions gave up 365 yards passing. We have also seen PSU struggle to stop the run at times, although that is not an indictment on Brown and Porter Jr.

The Buckeyes should (presumably) be looking to strike balance with their offense on Saturday, without leaning too heavily on one thing or another. If they are backed into a corner and forced to air it out for a majority of the game, the Penn State secondary – Porter Jr. and Brown in particular – could make things interesting. Let’s hope that Ryan Day’s game plan and OSU’s superior weapons are more than enough to get it done. Go Bucks!

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Column: Could Ohio State play for a different kind of trophy in the Big Ten Championship?
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

And could this become more common in the future?

Before the season, if one asked who might win the Big Ten West, you might have said Wisconsin, Iowa or, if you were feeling spicy, Minnesota. Despite it being a relatively open race, Illinois probably wasn’t on your radar.

Now, Illinois is sitting at the top of the division. The Illini have the nation’s No. 1 total defense and scoring defense (granted, they played Iowa). Currently, they’re sitting at a surprising 6-1, including a 3-1 conference mark, with the only blemish on their record coming in a narrow loss to Indiana in Week 2. Somehow, on his second stint as a Big Ten head coach, Bret Bielema has already managed to turn around a team that’s struggled for the better part of two decades to find its footing in the conference.

Moreover, Illinois beat those aforementioned presumed Big Ten West champs in succession in the last three weeks: Wisconsin, Iowa, then Minnesota.

With the Big Ten East already hurtling toward the final week’s matchup of what are currently top-five Ohio State and Michigan teams, the story of their opponent from the West became a little less interesting as the division collapsed by the midway point of the season. At this point, Illinois is the only ranked team in the West (No. 17).

However, there are reasons to be excited about a possible postseason matchup with Illinois. One of the fun things about the Big Ten conference is its preponderance of trophy games, with 16 trophies currently in rotation (there will be 17 when USC and UCLA join and battle for the Victory Bell).

Ohio State has just a single trophy game: the longstanding Illibuck with Illinois, a tradition dating back to 1925. The Illibuck itself is a carved wooden turtle and the second-oldest trophy in the Big Ten behind the Little Brown Jug. It is arguably the cutest trophy, though Floyd of Rosedale is pretty adorable, too.

That trophy could get new meaning this year: Ohio State and Illinois could very reasonably face off for the Illibuck in the postseason for the first time ever. In fact, it would be the first time in the Big Ten that two teams played for a rivalry trophy in the conference title game.

(Caveat: this column is certainly forward-looking. There is a lot of football for Ohio State to play before the Buckeyes can secure a spot in the Big Ten Title!)

Of note, Wisconsin and Nebraska, who play annually for the Freedom Trophy, are the only two teams with a trophy game who have faced off in the Big Ten Championship (2012). However, the Freedom Trophy wasn’t implemented until 2014.

The Buckeyes and Illini played every season from 1914-2002, then again from 2005-2015. However, one of the victims of conference expansion, the last time the two teams played was in 2017. They were supposed to renew the rivalry in 2020, but COVID got in the way. The legend of the Illibuck has faded somewhat from memory given five seasons without play, which is something of a tragedy for the historic pairing. Playing with even more on the line could renew things in dramatic fashion, even if the championship game pairing seems a little dull at first glance.

Just this week, the Big Ten has said it would revisit the division question at a later time when USC and UCLA’s arrival is a little more imminent. Depending on how things shake out, given there are so many trophy games played between the conference’s members, we might encounter a Big Ten Championship/trophy game scenario more often henceforth, and maybe even trophies changing hands within mere weeks instead of an entire year.

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Big Ten stat leaders through Week 8
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 Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

Nearly 2⁄3 of the way through the season, where do the Buckeyes stack up among conference leaders?

There is still a ton up for grabs in the Big Ten, as the winners of each division remain very much undecided. Illinois looks to be the best in the West, and Ohio State and Michigan appear to be on a crash course for a game that will decide the East, but there is a lot of football to be played. While the top teams remain in lockstep, some individual players are looking to separate themselves from the pack.

Let’s take a look at the statistical leaders in the B1G after Week 8.

Passing Yards

1. Aidan O’Connell, Purdue - 2,270
2. Connor Bazelak, Indiana - 2,099
3. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State - 2,023

Passing Touchdowns

1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State - 28
2. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin - 17
3. Aidan O’Connell, Purdue - 15

Passing Efficiency

1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State - 203.9
2. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan - 170.6
3. Graham Mertz, Wisconsin - 159.6

Rushing Yards

1. Chase Brown, Illinois - 1,059
2. Blake Corum, Michigan - 901
3. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin - 870

(Ohio State’s leader: Miyan Williams - 516 — 10th)

Rushing Touchdowns

1. Blake Corum, Michigan - 13
2. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota - 10
3. Miyan Williams, Ohio State // Braelon Allen, Wisconsin - 9

Yards Per Carry (min. 50 attempts)

1. Miyan Williams, Ohio State - 7.0
2. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State - 6.8
3. Roman Hemby, Maryland - 6.5

Receiving Yards

1. Charlie Jones, Purdue - 840
2. Trey Palmer, Nebraska - 781
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State - 735
4. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State - 598

Receiving Touchdowns

1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State - 10
2. Charlie Jones, Purdue - 9
3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State - 7

Receptions

1. Charlie Jones, Purdue - 72
2. Trey Palmer, Nebraska - 47
3. Isaiah Williams, Illinois - 47

(Ohio State’s leader: Emeka Egbuka - 41 — 5th)

Total Tackles

1. Jack Campbell, Iowa - 71
2. Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern - 70
3. Aaron Casey, Indiana - 66

(Ohio State’s leader: Tommy Eichenberg - 57 — 7th)

Tackles for Loss

1. Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State - 10.5
2. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin - 9.5
3. Aaron Casey, Indiana - 9.0

(Ohio State’s leader: Mike Hall Jr. - 7.5 — 7th)

Sacks

1. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin - 6.0
2. Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State - 5.5
3. Mike Morris, Michigan - 5.0

(Ohio State’s leader: Mike Hall Jr. - 4.5 — 4th)

Interceptions

1. John Torchio, Wisconsin - 5
2. Kendal Smith, Illinois - 4
3. Five players tied with 3, including Tanner McCalister

Team Stats - Scoring Offense

1. Ohio State - 49.6 PPG
2. Michigan - 42.7 PPG
3. Maryland - 34.1 PPG

Team Stats - Scoring Defense

1. Illinois - 8.9 PPG allowed
2. Michigan - 12.1 PPG allowed
3. Ohio State - 14.9 PPG allowed

Team Stats - Total Offense

1. Ohio State - 517.4 YPG
2. Michigan - 473.6 YPG
3. Maryland - 454.4 YPG

Team Stats - Total Defense

1. Illinois - 222.1 YPG allowed
2. Ohio State - 239.9 YPG allowed
3. Michigan - 250 YPG allowed

BONUS - Updated Heisman Odds at midseason:


All lines courtesy of the DraftKings Sportsbook.

1. C.J. Stroud, QB Ohio State: +100
2. Hendon Hooker, QB Tennessee: +200
3. Caleb Williams, QB USC: +1400
4. Blake Corum, RB Michigan: +1400
5. Bryce Young, QB Alabama: +2200
6. Bo Nix, QB Oregon +3000
7. Stetson Bennett IV, QB Georgia: +3000
8. Drake Maye, QB UNC: +4000
9. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama: +4000
10. Spencer Sanders, QB Oklahoma State: +5000

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 26, 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 Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via 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

Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Watch Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, and Kevin Wilson preview Penn State:


Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Previews Penn State, Says Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is Expected to Be Available, Chip Trayanum Moved to Running Back Due to TC Caffey Injury
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Chip Trayanum moves to running back after injury to TC Caffey, Palaie Gaoteote must step up at linebacker
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Key Takeaways as Buckeyes dial up intensity for Penn State (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Practice Report: What We Learned as confident Buckeyes gear up for Penn State
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Day has done a really good job of building a team full of great players and great people.


The good, bad on injuries for Buckeyes: JSN, Robinson, Caffey, Hancock, Cam Brown, Proctor, Trayanum, Gaoteote
Dave Biddle, Bucknuts

Buckeyes plan on having Jaxon Smith-Njigba for pivotal Penn State trip
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Day, Wilson Acknolwdge Run Game Difficulties Against Iowa
Jack Emerson, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Ohio State working to clean up rushing attack after subpar game vs. Iowa (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Column: Let’s discuss the running back situation
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

This seems good.


Ohio State’s defense has started forcing turnovers, but Jim Knowles thinks more are on the way
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

Will Jordan Hancock’s role in Ohio State football’s defense grow after his debut vs. Iowa?
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com

C.J. Stroud’s approach to playing QB came from a different sport, and it’s keeping Ohio State’s offense humming
Stephen Means, cleveland.com

It’s pretty incredible that I can come up with two, maybe three Nits that would start for the Buckeyes.


What Penn State’s James Franklin said about Ohio State, this week’s top-15 game
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

B1G Thoughts: Jim Knowles, the mad scientist
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land

You’re Nuts: What is your favorite non-offensive Ohio State touchdown?
Brett Ludwiczak and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Michigan Wolverines
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land


Visiting Locker Room: Previewing Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball with Maize n Brew
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State women’s basketball player preview: Rikki Harris
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Soccer: No. 13 Buckeyes Undefeated at Home with 2-1 Win vs. MSU
Ohio State Athletics

Rifle: Buckeye Defeat UTEP in Pair of Matches
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Ice Hockey: Halliday Skates to Fast Start in Freshman Season
Matthew Levine, The Lantern

And now for something completely different...


Two trailers in as many days? Marvel fans are eating good.


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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Will Ohio State finally be tested by Penn 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 Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Nittany Lions seem to always find a way to keep this game close.

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast ‘Hangout in the Holy Land’ is here! Join LGHL’s co-managing editor Gene Ross alongside his co-host Josh Dooley as they cover everything from football to basketball to recruiting and more!

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On this week’s episode, Gene and Josh preview what should be one of two remaining tests for Ohio State during the regular season — at least we think. The Buckeyes have had a number of teams on the docket who could supposedly test them thus far, but none of them have. Penn State is really strong in some key areas, including the offensive skill positions and in the secondary, so maybe we can actually learn something about Ohio State’s defense this week. Will this be another close battle between these two schools, or will the Buckeyes finally pull away?

“Hangout in the Holy Land” will be posting two episodes per week during the regular season, with an episode before and after each Ohio State game to give you all the preview and recap content you may need. Be sure to download and listen in wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple to let us know your thoughts and how we can make things even better!

You can also follow us on Twitter @HolyLandPod, where we will want to hear from you guys even more! If there’s anything you’d like us to talk about on the show, @ us and let us know!

As always, Go Bucks.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23

Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

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2025 linebacker from Georgia talks Ohio State visit
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Mantrez Walker | 247Sports

The Buckeyes look to have positioned themselves nicely for a rising defender from the Peach State.

Despite it being a slow news day on the recruiting trail, an underclassmen defender from Georgia shared his thoughts on his visit to the Buckeyes campus this past weekend. The rising prospect from SEC territory was able to get a firsthand look at Jim Knowles defense in Columbus, and took in the home teams’ 54-10 victory over Iowa.

Walker talks weekend visit to Ohio State


The Buckeyes have had the luxury of hosting a few important recruiting weekends already this season, and while this past Saturday against the Hawkeyes wasn’t one of those, it still brought some intriguing talent to Ohio Stadium.

One of those being 2025 linebacker Mantrez Walker of Buford (GA), who self-reported an offer from the Buckeyes at the conclusion of his visit — which he certainly didn’t hold back about when discussing with Garrick Hodge of Eleven Warriors.

“It was the greatest experience I ever had,” Walker revealed to Hodge. “I loved the relationships built with the coaches, and I loved the history and game atmosphere. They have a great defensive scheme, and they really showed me how I would fit into it. I got some great takeaways from it. I’m definitely applying what I was taught into my game.”

Hodge notes that Walker, who also is a track and field athlete, was able to spend time with members of the defensive coaching staff including defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Now with the Buckeyes firmly in the race for Walker, they will join the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina, Tennessee and more as early offers for the 6-foot-1, 215-pounder. According to his 247Sports profile, Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M are also showing interest but have yet to offer to this point.

Quick Hits

• After backing off of his commitment to the Buckeyes last month, former Ohio State hoops pledge and 2023 four-star shooting guard George Washington III of Chaminade Julienne (OH) will be selecting his new school on Nov. 1, according to Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers.com. The 6-foot-2, 165-pounder Weingarten notes that Washington III has already taken an official visit to Michigan, and has a trip to see Wake Forest this weekend. Dayton, Louisville, and Virginia are also considered finalists.
• According to Mick Walker of Boiler Sports Report, Buckeye legacy prospect and 2025 athlete Jackson Wiley of Olentangy (OH) is piecing together an impressive campaign this season. Wiley, the son of former Ohio State running back Michael Wiley, has tallied 45 receptions for 553 yards and a half dozen touchdowns. Kentucky is the lone program to offer thus far, but Walker notes that Wiley has already taken a visit to Columbus and will be at Tennessee this weekend.

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Big Ten men’s basketball team previews: Michigan Wolverines
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Will the return of Hunter Dickinson push Michigan to a Big Ten Championship?

Team: Michigan Wolverines
Coach: Juwan Howard
2021-22 record: 19-15 (11-9)

Season finish: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

Players returning: Hunter Dickinson, Terrance Williams II, Kobe Bufkin, Isaiah Barnes, Jace Howard, Will Tschetter

Players departed: Eli Brooks, De’Vante Jones, Moussa Diabate, Caleb Houstan, Zeb Jackson (VCU), Brandon Johns Jr. (VCU), Frankie Collins (Arizona State)

Key additions: Tarris Reed, Jett Howard, Dug McDaniel, Gregg Glenn, Jaelin Llewellyn (Princeton), Joey Baker (Duke), Youssef Khayat

Outlook


It cannot be overlooked how many impact guys the Wolverines lost this offseason. Promising freshmen Moussa Diabate and Caleb Houstan left for the NBA, De’Vante Jones and Eli Brooks ran out of eligibility, Zeb Jackson and Brandon Johns Jr. are both heading to VCU, and young point guard Frankie Collins is off to the West Coast and Arizona State. Luckily for them, they did get a surprise return from their star Hunter Dickinson, who was expected to go to the NBA but decided to stay one more year at Michigan.

“My role has definitely changed a lot over my three years,” Dickinson said at Michigan media days. “I came in as a freshman who just wanted to be a sponge and soak up all the information from my older teammates since we were a really experienced team my freshman year.”

“Now that I’m a junior — now that I’m a leader for the team in some ways, I’m somebody that the younger guys look to for advice,” Dickinson added. “Thankfully, I got guys like Jace (Howard) and T-Will who have been here and know the system, but I also got guys like Jaelin and Joey (Baker) who are super old — they bring a lot of great experience and leadership. Jaelin and Joey have played a lot of college games, so they have a lot of experience that the younger guys will be able to look forward to and ask for help.”

Dickinson averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game his freshman season, and 18.6 points with 8.6 boards per game last season. Now as junior, he will look to fulfill his role of one of the top players in the conference and possibly the country.

Joey Baker, a transfer from Duke, is a very interesting addition to the team. Baker is an elite shooter who never cracked the rotation at Duke, but can be productive and provide the role of sharpshooter off the bench for Michigan. Jaelin Llewellyn is their starting point guard, a transfer from Princeton, and they are bringing in a top 10 elite recruiting class.

Kobe Bufkin and Terrance Williams II will likely round out the starting lineup, and will both need to take significant jumps in production in their new roles, especially Bufkin, as he enters his second season.

X Factor


Jaelin Llewellyn.

Llewellyn is coming into Michigan from Princeton, where he averaged 15.7 points last season and 14 points per game over his three year career. He also proved he is a solid rebounder, averaging a modest 4.1 rebounds last season and 3.8 for his career.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” Llewellyn said at Michigan’s media day. “I’ve played a lot of college basketball and basically I’ve been trying to get the flow of the offense and figure out how to gel with the guys on the team, and I think that it’s pretty smooth so far. Definitely playing overseas helped us because it gave me the chance to get out the first-time jitters of playing with a new team and stuff like that, but I think I’m fitting in well.”

A huge part of the Wolverines’ season will be the relationship between Llewellyn and Dickinson, which so far seems to be going well.

“I think Jaelin has been a real down to earth guy,” Dickinson told SB Nation. “From his visit, I feel like it was somebody that I think we could gel well with. Somebody that is just down to earth and really approachable. Somebody that I really enjoy hanging out with off the court, I think that’s something that’s really big. Hanging out off the court with him makes it easier to play on the court with him.”

A solid point guard is a necessity to win in the Big Ten, and Llewellyn is exactly that for Juwan Howard and Michigan.

Prediction


I think Michigan will be Indiana’s biggest contender in the Big Ten for the regular season title. Illinois will also be right there, but I like the way this Wolverine team is constructed, and Hunter Dickinson is probably the best individual player in the conference.

Bringing in Llewellyn was huge for the Wolverines because he is a guy that will step right in and run the point guard. Michigan is in a similar boat as Ohio State, as they will need production from their fantastic incoming freshman class. Jett Howard, Dug McDaniel and Tarris Reed are all top-100 recruits in the Wolverines No. 10 overall ranked 2022 class.

They will need steady and immediate production from all of them, especially Howard, who will likely be a starter for the Wolverines. Reed is a plug and play player, and McDaniel hails from Paul IV Catholic high school in Fairfax, Virginia, which has produced the likes of Jeremy Roach, Josh Reaves, VJ King and Aaron Thompson.

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B1G Thoughts: Jim Knowles, the mad scientist
JordanW330 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 Halloween around the corner, Jim Knowles went into his evil lair and resurrected the Silver Bullets.

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. 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.

They’re Alive!!!!


Jim Knowles was hired away from the fake OSU, Oklahoma State University, to become the defensive coordinator at the Ohio State University this past January. He was tasked with one job, fixing the defense. He was deemed the head coach of the defense as Ryan Day lamented having to take focus away from the offense to help out last year’s defensive staff.

Well, in the 10 short months since Knowles was hired he has proven his worth. This offseason he threw on his lab coat, picked up the random parts and pieces left of the buckeye defense, and sewed them together. He pulled a Dr. Frankenstein taking them to the top of the shoe and waiting for lightning to strike! Strike it did as he rebirthed the Silver Bullets from the ashes of failed regimes and poor coaching. Knowles is a defensive mastermind and the Buckeyes are lucky to have him.

Do the right thing and retire


Iowa is not in a position to fire Kirk Ferentz, largely because they gave him an unnecessary contract extension in January. You could argue that’s fair seeing that he won the west Division but he was under contract and not going anywhere.

If Ferentz loves Iowa as much as he claims, or if he loves his son too much to fire him then it is time for him to retire. He is 67 years old and the sport has passed him by. I am not convinced even if he fired Brian and hired a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach that the Iowa offense would be fixed. Ferentz needs to do what’s right and retire so Iowa can move toward the future.

Roman HIMby!


Welcome to the Big Ten Roman Hemby! Maryland has struggled to maintain a consistent running game under Mike Locksley but that may be changing with freshman running back Roman Hemby, Hemby broke onto the scene with a 114-yard performance against Buffalo and a 151-yard performance against SMU. Despite showing promise early in the season, Maryland refused to make him a featured part of the offense which they may regret especially a 2-point loss to Purdue where he only saw 7 carries.

Against Northwestern, with Taulia on the sideline, Maryland needed to find a spark and found one in Hemby. He carried the ball 24 times for 179 yards and three touchdowns including the game-winning 75-yard score with three minutes remaining in the game. Hemby needs to be a major focus in the future whether Taulia comes back or not.

Maryland is bowl eligible


The University of Maryland Terrapins are bowl eligible and it only took eight games! Coming into the season there was a lot of hype behind Maryland including some people considering their wide receivers the best in the big ten. That was absolutely false but they are a very talented team with Taulia Tagovailoa leading them for a third straight season. Maryland started the season and showcased they were a serious team defeating SMU and pushing Michigan late into the fourth quarter.

Despite Taulia missing the game due to injury Maryland came from behind to beat Northwestern and secure bowl eligibility. With four games left in the season, Maryland has a chance to secure its best season in recent history. Hopefully, Tualia comes back healthy as they fight for a chance at a new year’s six bowl game.

Wisconsin wins 16 straight!


Purdue, under head coach Jeff Brohm, has experienced some of its highest highs and has competed for the West division until late in the season. This season, despite two baffling losses on last-minute scoring drives, Purdue was setting themselves up for a winner take all game against Illinois for their first West division title. That may still be the case but their chances have been diminished after losing to Wisconsin. Purdue needed to beat Wisconsin but despite all the positive momentum, it’s a challenge they haven’t come close to conquering.

Wisconsin, under interim head coach, got out to a 35-10 lead before Purdue scored 14 points in the garbage to make the game’s final score closer than the game was. Congrats to Leonhard who may have secured the Wisconsin job full-time while Purdue is stuck trying to find a way to clear a seemingly impossible hurdle.

Penn State bounces back


Penn State's embarrassing defeat to Michigan last week sent the team looking for answers. They gave up over 400 yards rushing and had to face Mo Ibrahim and the Minnesota Gophers in their next game. Without a significant change and some renewed focus Penn State was in line to get run over again and face Ohio State after two tough losses.

Well, change came and Penn State dominated Minnesota and found a way to slow their run game. Not having to face Tanner Morgan helped as the veteran quarterback was unable to play this game but the Nittany Lion’s defense swarmed the Gophers and their offense found its rhythm. The defense forced Mo Ibrahim to work to maintain his 100-yard rushing streak limiting him to 102 yards on 30 carries on 3.4 yards per carry.

Sean Clifford propelled his team past the Gophers and into a tough OSU matchup throwing for 295 yards and four touchdowns. This win was much needed as it gives Penn State some confidence and momentum going into an Ohio State game where they need to have a much better performance than they did against Michigan.

B1G is keeping divisions for now


Our long wait is over, for the time being. After the division one committee announced that conferences could get rid of divisions we have been waiting for the Big Ten to announce our division-less future. That decision was put on hold with the addition of USC and UCLA and we still do not know what the conference will look like in 2024. What we do know though is what it will look like in 2023 and that is the same.

Instead of making a change for the 2023 season and changing again in 2024 when the west coast teams join the conference has decided to keep the same division format for 2023. This was the most likely outcome and probably the smartest as the conference has enough change to deal with and a lot of decisions to make finalizing the fine print with the new tv contract, transitioning into two teams, and trying to prepare for a 12-team playoff. No need to spend all this time changing something that will last one season.

We will have to wait to see the Big Ten’s future but for now, we know it will maintain the status quo, for one more season at least.

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Visiting Locker Room: Previewing Michigan Wolverines women’s basketball with Maize n Brew
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Can Michigan fill a Naz Hillmon-sized hole in their roster? LGHL asks the experts

Last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes had a tough time against their enemies to the north, the Michigan Wolverines. In two games, the Scarlet & Gray were beaten handidly, by 19 and 18 points respectively. Ohio State got the last laugh, winning the regular season conference title when the Wolverines slipped at the end of the season. What should Buckeye fans expect from the Maize & Blue this year?

All last year, Ohio State had troubles adjusting to strong inside games, and now-WNBA player Naz Hillmon was one of the best in the country. Now that Hillmon is gone, do the Buckeyes have a chance to capitalize?

To talk about that absence, who to watch on the Wolverines roster and more, Kellen Voss of Maize n Brew answers a few questions to preview the Big Ten rivals.

Land-Grant Holy Land: Of all the top teams in the conference last year, Michigan is one who had the biggest talent loss with Naz Hillmon moving on to the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. How does Michigan fill that giant loss?


LGHL: This offseason, the Wolverines added one player in the transfer portal and have three incoming freshmen. Do any of those four have the potential to make an immediate impact, or is this a side who will lean heavily on upperclassmen?


LGHL: Last year, Michigan was close to winning the regular season conference title. They slipped up against Michigan State, Northwestern and finally Iowa on the last day of the season to give the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes a share of the title. Now, they enter the preseason ranked No. 25, and the media left them off their preseason conference rankings. Is the Wolverines’ move to conference underdogs fair? Is there still enough there for this team to compete with the Iowa’s and Indiana’s of the conference?


LGHL: Finally, what are your way-too-early predictions on how far Michigan makes it in the NCAA Tournament?


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You’re Nuts: What is your favorite non-offensive Ohio State touchdown?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

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

With Ohio State taking on Penn State on Saturday afternoon, there are many things that come to mind when the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions get together. Braxton Miller making Penn State defenders look silly in State College in 2012, Joey Bosa’s walk-off sack a couple years later, and Chris Gamble’s interception return for a touchdown in 2002 are just a few memories that come to mind over the last 20 years.

The interception return by Gamble was especially important, since it turned out to be the game-winning score in a game that would end 13-7 in Ohio State’s favor. In a game that was hanging in the balance, the interception return for a touchdown whipped Ohio Stadium into a frenzy, with some Ohio State fans saying it was the loudest it has ever been at The Horseshoe. The Buckeyes remained undefeated and went on to win the national title that year.

While it is great watching the Buckeye offense score touchdowns, there is something special about seeing Ohio State score on a non-offensive play, whether it be a defensive or special teams score. We know how prolific Ohio State’s offense has become so it doesn’t come as a shock when they score, but when the defense or special teams score, you certainly remember it.

Today’s question: What is your favorite non-offensive touchdown by 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: Steve Miller’s pick-six against Alabama in the 2015 Sugar Bowl


I almost went with Jerron Cage’s interception return for a touchdown against Penn State last year because there is nothing quite like a FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN! Defensive lineman Steve Miller wasn’t quite as big as Cage, but the moment was certainly larger. Miller’s pick-six came with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter, extending Ohio State’s lead to 34-21.

The interception return for a touchdown was the first pick-six thrown by an Alabama quarterback since 2007. The fact that the Crimson Tide went seven years in between allowing interceptions that were returned for touchdowns is incredible, especially considering how much more teams have been throwing the football over the years. The Buckeyes would eventually go on to win the game 42-35, allowing Ohio State to move on to the national title game, as well as get the stigma they couldn’t beat an SEC team in a big game off their backs.

I remember being at a bar in NW Columbus on the night of New Year’s Day watching this game. Morale was down early in the game when Alabama jumped out to a first half lead, but spirits got better as Ohio State took the lead. The bar really let loose when Miller returned the interception for a score. I know I was making puns about Steve Miller Band songs after the score. There’s no doubt that if there was a list of top-five moments from the 2014 season, this score would have to be on it.

Meredith’s answer: Brian Rolle’s two-point conversion return against Navy in 2009


Last week marked the seventh anniversary of surrender cobra, when Michigan State blocked and returned a Michigan punt for a touchdown on a stormy day in Ann Arbor to seal the victory over their in-state rivals and give Ohio State fans one more reason to cheer. This, my friends, is my favorite non-offensive collegiate score of all time.

Mine is kind of irrelevant, because it came in the season opener against an unranked, non-Power Five opponent. However, I was a sophomore at the Air Force Academy in 2009 when Ohio State faced Navy in the first game of its season. As a result, I had even more reason to be cheering for the Buckeyes in that matchup.

Things were uncomfortably close in the fourth quarter (as they tend to be when facing the triple-option service academies). Ohio State was up two scores in the fourth quarter when the Buckeyes turned the ball over on downs on the Navy 15-yard line. On the very next play, Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs completed an 85-yard touchdown pass.

The Midshipmen were now down eight. Five plays later, the Navy showed why they’re funded by the Department of Defense and hauled in a pick from quarterback Terrelle Pryor with nearly four minutes left in the game. The Midshipmen went 33 yards in three plays, capped by a 24-yard Dobbs rushing touchdown. Navy was down two with 2:23 remaining as they lined up for their two-point conversion attempt.

That’s when Ohio State’s Brian Rolle picked off Dobbs’ pass and returned it 99 yards the other direction in a rare four-point swing, halting Navy’s surging momentum and effectively ending the upset bid.

The rest of the 2009 season had its ups and downs. The following week, Ohio State would lose to USC. Later, the Buckeyes would fall to Purdue before turning on the jets and closing things out with top-11 wins over Penn State and Iowa, a win against Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon.

I’m not sure why that moment sticks with me. Maybe it’s because it felt like Navy had everything going for it heading into that two-point play. Maybe it’s because 99-yard plays are generally so exciting. Or maybe it’s because a two-point play the other way was the last thing any of us expected at that moment.

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Gridiron goes ‘NUTS’ for the annual Buckeye Squirrel Bowl!

DEVILLE, La. (KALB) - If there is one tradition in Central Louisiana that just seems to make sense, it is Buckeye’s annual Thursday night Squirrel Bowl.

“This is what high school football is all about,” said Buckeye Head Football Coach Ben McLaughlin.

On the eve of squirrel hunting season, which opens up on the first day of October, Buckeye fans dress in all camo while going nuts over a chance to bring back home the Squirrel Bowl Trophy.

Click to expand...

Buckeye’s Jacob Dryden explained just how he prepares for the season.

“What I do is I hang them up in this holder I got, and I clip it on their feet,” said Dryden. “I cut around the neck and pull the fur off, and I just cut them open and get all the guts out. I cut the head off and they’re good.”

Click to expand...

Ohio State definitely needs to send a coach down to this game.

Ohio State women’s basketball player preview: Rikki Harris
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

The former five-star recruit enters the season making an already strong group of guards even more impressive

The beginning of the Ohio State women’s basketball season is upon us. On Election Night, Nov. 8, the Buckeyes lobby to start the season on the right foot against a tough Tennessee Volunteers squad.

Ohio State has toughness of their own, represented best by the next player in the Land-Grant Holy Land series previewing the 2022-23 roster. Guard Rikki Harris enters the season coming off a successful, and healthy, 21-22 season. Can the guard repeat that success and build upon it?


Name: Rikki Harris
Position: Guard
Class: Redshirt Junior
High School: North Central High School (Indianapolis, Indiana)

2021-22 Stats: 7.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, .392 FG%, .333 3FG%, .557 FT%

Last Season


The Buckeyes had a guard crisis to start the season. If you’ve read the player previews up to this point, you know its from the season-ending injury to starting point guard Madison Greene before the season even began.

Harris knows all about injuries. Before joining the Scarlet & Gray out of high school, Harris suffered an injury that limited time in her final high school year. That difficulty was followed up with a season-ending shoulder injury before the start of Ohio State’s 19-20 season.

Last season, Ohio State started one game with Heyvnne Bristow as point guard, before Kateri Poole, who now plays with the LSU Tigers, took over starting duties. That made Harris a spark off the bench, coming in second to forward Tanaya Beacham in most games. After playing only eight minutes in the first game of the season, Harris never played single digit minutes again, proving her place on the court and health wasn’t an issue.

On Jan. 9, against Northwestern, Poole left the game injured, and starting Jan. 12 Harris entered the starting lineup and never left it. Teammate Jacy Sheldon slid from the shooting guard role to point guard, and Harris came in as a player who bridged the pair of dynamic shooting guards and forwards Braxtin Miller and Rebeka Mikulášiková.

In that first start, Harris didn’t take the chance for granted. The Indianapolis-area guard hit above her 7.1 points per game average with nine but impressed more off the ball. Harris had three blocks, three steals and four rebounds, a foreshadowing of the defensive impact that followed through the end of the season.

Against the Hawkeyes, Harris had three steals and six rebounds on top of nine points. A couple weeks later, on the road to the Fighting Illini, Harris couldn’t seem to miss from beyond three, hitting a shot from the far corner of the court, for a season-high 17 points with four steals defensively.

Harris didn’t show her full potential offensively, but when Ohio State needed energy and defending, there she was. Against Penn State, to end the regular season, Harris held First Team All-B1G guard Makenna Marisa to her lowest point total of the season (10). In addition to the poor shooting night, going .154 from the field and missing all four three-point shots, Marisa also had six turnovers for the Nittany Lions.

On March 21, in the Buckeyes second round game against a home LSU team, Harris showed that Ohio State wasn’t intimidated by the raucous Tiger fans. Before the tip, Harris was singing a song, almost looking like she was singing to LSU starting point guad Khayla Pointer, as if to show that Ohio State wasn’t worried.

Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes silenced the crowd, beating the SEC side by 15 points on their home court, 79-64. Harris hit her season average with seven points, but added seven rebounds.

What to Expect


After halftime in that NCAA Tournament game against LSU, Harris had a play that summed the guard up perfectly. At the top of the arc, Harris took a three that hit off the rim. Harris charged into the paint, grabbed her own rebound and hit the lay-up. That’s the kind of player to expect on the court for Ohio State.

“Has a very high basketball IQ, is a good communicator on the court in helping others be in the right positions,” said McGuff about Harris. “She’s got some toughness to her that we’re going to need on the defensive end, especially she gets tough rebounds and she dives on the floor. We’re gonna need a lot of that with Braxtin (Miller) gone.”

Expect Harris to be on the court a lot. In what capacity is a question to watch this season. Harris has the capability to play in Miller’s four-role. After all, Miller did move from guard to forward later in her NCAA career when she came to the Buckeyes from Oklahoma State.

Also, Harris is a perfect candidate to be Ohio State’s sixth player. Last season, Beacham held firmly onto that role, as a forward, giving Mikulášiková rest and giving the Scarlet & Gray a shot of energy and leadership.

Prediction


Last year, Harris didn’t show what she’s capable of offensively. A player isn’t the sixth rated guard in the country simply for defense. On the ESPN recruiting trail, Harris was heralded as someone with “playmaking skills” and “consistent offensive production.”

This year, Harris should get consistent minutes but likely in that first player off the bench role. That will still get the guard consistent minutes each game, and even move into a starting position if McGuff opts to let a guard rest a game, which he wasn’t able to do last season.

Harris will have her best offensive year with the Buckeyes in 2022/23 and her leadership and defense will make her an indispensible piece of the Ohio State team again this year. A Defensive All-B1G Team spot wouldn’t be a surprise.

Stay healthy, and Harris will be a piece of why Ohio State continues to compete and stay near the top of the Big Ten conference.

Highlights


Enjoy highlights from Ohio State’s Valentine’s Day victory over the Illini. Watch Harris’ (1) big shooting night, including at the 2:00 mark where the guard banks a shot off a tough angle on the corner of the court.


Miss any player previews? Here’s the list so far:

• Taylor Mikesell
• Eboni Walker
• Madison Greene
• Emma Shumate
• Cotie McMahon
• Rebeka Mikulášiková

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Column: Let’s discuss the running back situation
meganhusslein 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

Up to this point in the season, Miyan Williams has 42 more yards than TreVeyon Henderson, yet Tre has six more carries. Is this what we expected?

One of the biggest surprises this season from the Buckeye offense has been the emergence of Miyan Williams, and how much he has improved from last season. As a result of his success, TreVeyon Henderson has been getting a lot fewer snaps than last season, and overall just hasn’t seemed as dominant. What is happening?

Obviously, the Buckeye offense looks a lot different than last season. They have added a lot more weapons and introduced basically a brand new receiving core with JSN out. As I mentioned, Williams is getting a lot more playing time, now splitting reps with Henderson. Henderson had an absolute monster season as a freshman, finishing with over 1,200 rushing yards and being named a Doak Walker Award semi-finalist.

Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Fast forward to this season, he has 474 rushing yards compared to Williams’ 516. Granted, they both missed separate games, so that cancels any potential outliers. However, there is no clear RB1 on this team, which I think makes it difficult for either back to grow and reach their fullest potential.

It’s hard for Henderson to top last season’s greatness when he isn’t getting the same amount of snaps as he was then. On the flip side, Williams is having a phenomenal season because of the amount of snaps he is getting this season. In fact, he already has more carries at this point in the season then he did all of last year.

I don’t think this is a problem, though. Obviously both guys are still experiencing a ton of success. It’s just different than last season. Williams was the power back, the bulldozer on third downs. But, after losing weight during the offseason, he became a speed back as well, since he is still a tank.

Henderson is traditionally a speed back and is smaller than Williams, which I think is one of the reasons why he is getting fewer snaps. While Williams can be used in pretty much all situations, Henderson wouldn’t be the go-to guy on a third down or when the team just needs a couple of yards for a first down.

Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Let me reiterate: I don’t think this is a bad thing. The offense is very supportive of one another, so it’s not like Henderson is angry at the coaching staff or Williams because he isn’t getting as many carries. As a duo, they are getting the job done extremely well, and both of them are always a threat. Rotating them during the game ensures they both stay fresh, so they can both play to the best of their abilities.

The RB situation I think is a big part of why this team is doing so well this season. Yes, the receivers have been absolutely unreal. However, having a one-two punch at running back as well adds a constant rush threat, making opposing team’s defenses throw up their hands. If both backs can stay healthy, this could be a historic season for both guys.

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for October 25, 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 Gaelen Morse/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...


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Ask LGHL


Introducing ‘Ask LGHL,’ asking and answering questions throughout the football season
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Gridiron


Ryan Day Describes What Iowa Did to Hamper the Ohio State Offense on 97.1 The Fan, Says “We All Know How Difficult It Is” to Play at Penn State
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

Ohio State names six players of the game vs. Iowa
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Lathan Ransom is a Thorpe Award Semifinalist
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State opens as 14.5-point favorites over Penn State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Big Ten to keep divisions in 2023 before reconfiguring when USC, UCLA arrive in 2024: Sources
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic

Not always exciting when the field goal kicker is a Player of the Week, but was nice to see Ruggles go 4-for-4 on Saturday:


Film Review: Ohio State offense struggles in red zone, defensive line dominates Iowa
Chris Renne, Land-Grant Holy Land

The Monday After: Taking closer look at Buckeyes dominant win over Iow
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio State Rewatch: On run game struggles, another strong defensive outing (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Analysis: Buckeyes win big, but Iowa exposes some issues
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch

Why Ohio State’s 3-linebacker look was so effective vs. Iowa: Buckeyes final thoughts
Cameron Teague Robinson, The Athletic

Scientifically ranking all six of Ohio State’s touchdowns against Iowa
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Lots of noon games the rest of the season:


Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Iowa
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

Irrational Overreactions(?): The time has come for Iowa to give Kirk Ferentz an ultimatum
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Snap Counts: 60 Buckeyes See Playing Time As Ohio State Opens Second Half of Season with Blowout Win Over Iowa
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Five Buckeyes who helped their cause, boosted stock in win over Iowa (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

We’ll talk about this later: If coach woulda put me in the fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions
Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Listen to Ryan Day, C.J. Stroud, and Jim Knowles after the Iowa game:


You’re Nuts: Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba return to an important role for Ohio State this season?
Josh Dooley and Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

C.J. Stroud confident as ever, unfazed by unrealistic expectations (paywall)
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes

Column: Did Stroud lose the Heisman on Saturday? (Spoiler Alert: No)
Megan Husslein, Land-Grant Holy Land

Pretty darn impressive:


Five Questions as unbeaten Buckeyes head to Penn State (paywall)
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes

Five Things to Know About Penn State Before Ohio State Heads to Happy Valley for Its Second Road Game of the Season
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

My god, do I need this to happen:

On the Hardwood


How did Ohio State fare in ‘secret’ scrimmage against Wake Forest?
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Women’s basketball coach Kevin McGuff challenges Columbus, Buckeye fans
Thomas Costello, Land-Grant Holy Land

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Women’s Soccer: Buckeyes Finish 4th in Big Ten, Take on Nebraska in BTT
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Ice Hockey: Gardiner, Thiele named WCHA Players of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

Women’s Volleyball: Murr Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Golf: Moldovan Named to Haskins Award Watch List
Ohio State Athletics

Technically it’s in The Shoe, but this fits in here.

And now for something completely different...


I am an absolute Ant-Man stan:

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Silver Bullets Podcast: Iowa Rewind and Penn State Preview
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

A look back at Ohio State’s rout of the Hawkeyes and a preview of this weekend’s trip to Happy Valley.


Ohio State looked a little groggy coming out of the bye week for about a half, but then figured out some things and found some rhythm to put Iowa on full blast, 54-10. Although the first half of the game may have been somewhat aggravating, the Buckeyes cruised in the end. It’s hard to know how much of the defensive performance was the OSU defense and how much of it was an inept Hawkeye offense. The truth is probably a bit of both.

We looked back on our predictions for the game, and it turns out we vastly underrated Ohio State’s offense (and/or overrated the Iowa defense). We go over the game’s talking points, including six takeaways by the defense, some odd playcalling and issues getting plays called at all, the continued emergence of Julian Fleming, and more.

We welcomed Matt de Bear from Roar Lions Roar to get us up to speed on how the 2022 season has gone for the Penn State Nittany Lions. It sounds like the Buckeye offense will again be forced to figure out a stout defense, but on the road this time. Penn State’s offense is better than Iowa’s and can run the football this year. The key matchup is probably Ohio State’s passing game against that solid Penn State secondary. Big thanks to Matt for his usual excellent analysis of the Nittany Lions.

We walked through this week’s Big Ten results, including the Jeckyl-and-Hyde Purdue Boilermakers losing at Wisconsin, Maryland reaching bowl eligibility, and Rutgers probably driving the final nail into Indiana’s bowl hopes.

Then we made our picks to click on offense and defense for the Buckeyes in this Saturday’s game, and put our already questionable reputations on the line with our eerily similar score predictions.

We’ll be back next week to talk about Ohio State’s matchup with Penn State in Happy Valley and look ahead to the trip to Evanston, Ill. to face the Northwestern Wildcats. 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!

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Ohio State offers fast-rising 2025 linebacker from Georgia following Iowa game visit
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


2025 linebacker Mantrez Walker via @MantrezWalker on Twitter

After visiting for the Iowa game this past weekend, the 2025 linebacker earned a scholarship offer.

Ohio State is now 7-0 after a dominant showing Saturday versus Iowa. The Buckeyes were clicking in every aspect, winning 54-10. The win was impressive to all those who watched, including a handful of recruits who were on campus for the game.

Ohio State is entering the toughest part of its schedule, with games versus Penn State and Michigan quickly approaching. Most of the headlines revolving around the team will focus on this current roster as they close out their schedule, but Ryan Day and the Buckeyes’ coaching staff will ensure the program is always making the recruiting headlines as well.

Ohio State offers 2025 LB


The visitor list for Ohio State’s game against Iowa was not as large as previous weekends, but the Buckeyes still had a handful of recruits on campus for the game. One of the recruits that made the weekend trip to Columbus was 2025 Georgia linebacker Mantrez Walker (Buford, GA / Buford).


Walker is in the midst of his sophomore season of high school football, but he has started to see an uptick in his recruitment. He has received a dozen scholarship offers from the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Duke and now Ohio State. Home-state school Georgia and Florida have also been recruiting him, but he does not yet hold an official offer.

Ohio State will need to work hard if they are going to pull Walker out of SEC Country, but this weekend’s visit is definitely a solid first impression for the Buckeyes. The visit was also his first for him which should also help the Buckeyes get an early lead in his recruitment.

Walker has not yet received a star ranking from 247Sports, but thus is the case for many recruits in the class. Walker is showing the tools necessary to not only be ranked highly in his recruiting class, but also to succeed at the next level. Expect his rankings to rise to match the impressive offer sheet he is building.

To see more of what Walker is showing in his sophomore season, check out his mid-season highlights.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State 2024 five-star cornerback target Charles Lester III (Sarasota, FL / Riverview) spoke with Ryan Wright of Rivals.com and listed Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Florida and Florida State as the teams most active in his recruitment.

• Ohio State 2022 five-star wide receiver commit Brandon Inniss (Fort Lauderdale, FL / American Heritage) will be honored as an All-American this week.

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Scientifically ranking all six of Ohio State’s touchdowns against Iowa
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

We are using a scientific set of rules to systematically rank all of OSU’s touchdowns by degree of difficulty, athleticism, entertainment value, and anything else we want to judge them by.

There were a lot of touchdowns scored by the Buckeyes against the Iowa Hawkeyes, seven of them to be exact. So, since we live in a listicle world, we are breaking them down, scientifically, of course.

And since this is my column, I reserve the right to change my judging criteria week to week, heck, even touchdown to touchdown. In some cases, I will judge a play by its importance in the grand scheme of the game, others will be by the degree of difficulty, backstory, and sheer entertainment value.

If you disagree with my ranking (which my six+ years here at LGHL tells me you absolutely will), feel free to share your list in the comments below.

Ok, now, without further ado, drumroll, please.........

Sixth Place: Touchdown No. 1
Miyan Williams 2-Yard Run


This one is a fairly non-descript short-yardage rushing touchdown, but it gets the benefit of some extra love because Miyan Williams has back in the rotation for Ohio State after missing the Michigan State game. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a ton of success in this game — 19 yards on 10 carries — and he didn’t look. tobe 100%, especially as the game went on.

Hopefully he just needed to knock some rust off, because having him (and TreVeyon Henderson) healthy for the stretch run will be monumentally important to Ohio State’s title chances.

Fifth Place: Touchdown No. 6
Mitch Rossi 3-yard touchdown reception from C.J. Stroud


Look, we love any pass play called specifically for the fullback, but this one was actually a pretty impressive design. On the play-action, Mitch Rossi slides out into the flat and makes himself available to C.J. Stroud. The quarterback does a good job of not firing the ball at his FB and giving him a soft, simple pass to catch before turning up-field.

The linebacker was initially sucked in on the fake (and never expecting a third-and-goal pass to go Rossi’s way. However, once he realizes what’s going on, he tries to catch up, but Rossi is too strong to go down before getting to the end zone.

Fourth Place: Touchdown No. 3
Marvin Harrison 6-yard touchdown reception from C.J. Stroud


Marv’s gonna Marv and he went down and got this somewhat off-target throw from Stroud. I also didn’t love the play design on a fourth down to roll your quarterback to the side of the field where he only had one option to throw it to.

Fortunately, it worked out and Harrison Jr. got the score, but it was just a wonky, short-yardage play that looked to be far more difficult than it needed to be.

Third Place: Touchdown No. 2
Tommy Eichenberg 15-yard interception return


Look, Tommy Eichenberg is one of the best linebackers (if not the best linebacker) in the country, but because he didn’t come into the season with as much hype as Noah Sewell or Henry To’o To’o did, I don’t think that he's getting nearly as much love as he deserves. While scoring touchdowns obviously isn’t the thing that Tommy does best, having this on the resume can certainly help when it comes to Butkus voting time.

Not only does Eichenberg display some pretty impressive hands here, but he also makes a cut back to the middle of the field to get into the end zone that makes it look like he could be an emergency running back option along with Chip Trayanum.

Second Place: Touchdown No. 5
Julian Fleming 79-yard touchdown reception from C.J. Stroud


This was an almost perfectly thrown ball that essentially hit Julian Fleming in stride. It was such a well-placed pass that even though the Iowa defender had relatively decent coverage, he had no chance of making a play on the ball and when he tried, he completely took himself out of the play.

Had the corner not fallen down, I think that Fleming still likely has a chance to score, just because he is that fast and that strong.

First Place: Touchdown No. 4
Emeka Egbuka 13-yard touchdown reception from C.J. Stroud


Literally, the only thing keeping this from being one of the best TDs of the year is the fact that it was relatively short and the Iowa defense had essentially already given up at this point. The touch that Stroud puts on this ball is unbelievable and the way that Emeka Egbuka calmly watches the ball sailing through the air, only to put his hands up to make the catch at the last possible second is exactly what you want from an elite receiver.

The Iowa defensive back likely wasn’t going to break up the pass anyway, but the fact that Egbuka didn’t tip his hand that the ball was coming ensured that there was no chance of a deflection. Excellent work on this one.

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