MC&J: Ohio State fans are huge supporters of Utah and Kansas State this weekend
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

The Buckeyes needs either USC or TCU to lose to have any hope of making the College Football Playoff.

Last week ATS: 7-7-1 (3-3-1 B1G, 4-4 National)

Season ATS: 92-99-5 (44-50-2 B1G, 48-48-3 National)


Since the USMNT tied England on Friday in the FIFA World Cup, I guess my picks decided the record for the week should end even. Honestly though, after watching the Ohio State debacle on Saturday, a 7-7-1 record feels like a win. One more week to try and get as close to even as possible before bowl season.

Conference championship games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted):


(All lines courtesy of Draftkings Sportsbook.)

Conference USA: North Texas v. UTSA (-9) - Friday 7:30 p.m. - CBS Sports Network

UTSA is back in the Conference USA Conference Championship Game for a second straight season. While the Roadrunners beat Western Kentucky 49-41 last year, the week before they lost to North Texas 45-23, which ruined their dreams of an undefeated season. UTSA got a bit of revenge earlier this year when they beat the Mean Green 31-27 in San Antonio.

This game has the makings of a shootout. Both teams are great on offense and awful on defense. Frank Harris will get most of the attention because of what he has done for UTSA the last two years, but don’t sleep on North Texas quarterback Austin Aune, who has thrown for over 3,100 yards and 31 touchdowns this year. While I think the Roadrunners win, the Mean Green will make them work for their second straight conference title.

UTSA 38, North Texas 34


Pac-12: No. 11 Utah v. No. 4 USC (-3) - Friday 8:00 p.m. - FOX

These teams met earlier this year, with Utah winning a thrilling contest in Salt Lake City, beating the Trojans 43-42. Cameron Rising accounted for five touchdowns, throwing for two and running for three more. Caleb Williams matched Rising, with five touchdowns of his own, all of them coming through the air. The Utes earned the victory when they went for two after scoring a touchdown with under a minute to go.

Both teams are a little lighter in the backfield heading into this game, as Utah will be without Tavion Thomas, and USC lost running back Travis Dye to injury a few weeks ago. Even though the Trojans have been playing without Dye, their offense has still been humming, as Lincoln Riley’s team scored 48 points against UCLA, followed by a 38-point game against Notre Dame last week.

I know last year Utah came into the Pac-12 Championship Game against a team they played earlier in the year and destroyed Oregon to earn a spot in the Rose Bowl. The same thing isn’t going to happen this year. After a couple of sluggish games following the loss to the Utes, USC has found its groove over the last few games. This feels like a game where Caleb Williams solidifies himself as this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, and the Trojans earn a spot in the CFP.

USC 37, Utah 27


Big 12: No. 10 Kansas State v. No. 3 TCU (-2.5) - 12:00 p.m. - ABC

Since I think USC is going to win on Friday, that means TCU will have to lose to Kansas State if Ohio State has any chance of making the College Football Playoff. The Wildcats already had the Horned Frogs on the ropes earlier this year when the teams played in Fort Worth, taking a 28-17 lead into halftime before TCU outscored Kansas State 21-0 in the second half.

The first meeting between the schools was a little strange, as Adrian Martinez was injured early in the game against TCU, leaving Will Howard to take snaps at quarterback. The injury severely changed Kansas State’s offensive attack, since Martinez can run and pass, while Howard is really just a passing threat. The Wildcats have found a rhythm under Howard, scoring 126 points over the last three games.

Following what felt like an endless string of close games, TCU got to breathe a bit last week with a 62-14 win over Iowa State. The Cyclones are putrid though so I’m not putting a lot of stock in the big win. Max Duggan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country this year, while Keandre Miller is a huge threat on the ground. Still, I’m not convinced this TCU team has enough to go undefeated and make the CFP.

Kansas State has already had one crack at TCU, so they know what they’ll get from the Horned Frogs. The Wildcats are a well-coached team, so it’s hard to see them losing twice. Deuce Vaughn has a big day, as the Kansas State offense isn’t thrown off by an injury early in the game to their quarterback. Once again TCU is left out of the CFP, except this time they got the chance to state their case in a conference championship game, while Ohio State watches at home.

Kansas State 34, TCU 30


MAC: Toledo (-1.5) v. Ohio - 12:00 p.m. - ESPN

This game lost a lot of its luster with injuries to the quarterbacks of both teams over the last month. Dequan Finn injured his ankle last month against Buffalo, leaving Tucker Gleason as the starter for Toledo. Then Gleason broke his hand against Bowling Green a couple of weeks ago, but he was able to play last week against Western Michigan. Even though Finn played a little last week backing up Gleason, it was obvious he wasn’t the same quarterback we saw earlier this year.

One thing we do know is that we won’t see Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke on Saturday, as he suffered a torn ACL against Ball State two weeks ago. CJ Harris got his feet wet as the starter last week against Bowling Green in the 38-14 win. I like the Bobcats here because they have been rolling of late, while the Rockets have lost two in a row. Even if Harris isn’t effective, they can lean on running back Sieh Bangura, who has 884 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns this year.

Ohio 31, Toledo 20


Sun Belt: Coastal Carolina v. Troy (-8.5) - 3:30 p.m. - ESPN


It doesn’t sound like Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall is trending in the right direction to play on Saturday, which really hurts the Chanticleers. Backup Jarrett Guest has been really bad in the two games McCall has missed, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and throwing three interceptions.

On the other side, Troy has won nine straight games, only allowing more than 20 points in one of those games. Kimani Vidal has rushed for 1,006 yards and nine scores this season, taking some of the pressure off quarterback Gunnar Watson, who has thrown 10 interceptions this year. Even though the Troy offense has been inconsistent for much of the year, they have been better over the last two games, scoring 82 points against Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State.

Troy 31, Coastal Carolina 17


American: No. 22 UCF v. No. 18 Tulane (-3.5) - 4:00 p.m. - ABC

UCF has already beaten Tulane in New Orleans. The Knights do have an injury concern to deal with since quarterback John Rhys Plumlee suffered a concussion in last week’s win over USF. At least for UCF, it does sound like Plumlee is going to play, which adds a huge dynamic to their offense since the Ole Miss transfer can not only pass, he is a tremendous runner.

I know Tulane just came up to Cincinnati and beat the Bearcats. UCF provides a totally different challenge. I just don’t think the Green Wave has the pace to keep up with the Knights here. While Tulane has already faced the UCF offense once this year, I’m sure Gus Malzahn will have a few more wrinkles that the Green Wave might not be prepared for. Even with the loss, it still has been a great season for Tulane and Willie Fritz.

UCF 42, Tulane 34


Mountain West: Fresno State v. Boise State (-3) - 4:00 p.m. - FOX

These teams already met once in Boise this year, with the Broncos winning 40-20 in early October. This matchup will be a lot different since Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener wasn’t able to play because of an ankle injury. The Bulldogs are a different team with Haener, and they have made so many trips to Boise over the years that the blue turf shouldn’t throw them off their game.

Fresno State 28, Boise State 24


SEC: No. 14 LSU v. No. 1 Georgia (-17.5) - 4:00 p.m. - CBS

Just a couple of weeks ago we were wondering if LSU could make the CFP with two losses if they beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Then the Tigers laid an egg against Texas A&M last week. Jayden Daniels is extremely ordinary when you can contain him on the ground. Where he is dangerous is when he can find room to run and keep defenses guessing on whether he is going to run it or throw it.

Georgia’s defense definitely won’t let Daniels get loose, as they’ll be pressuring the LSU quarterback all game long. While sometimes it does take the Bulldog offense some time to get going, they are great at wearing down their opponents on both sides of the football. I don’t really think Georgia will have to work all that hard to break LSU’s spirit on Saturday since the Tigers have to be deflated from losing to the Aggies last week. The Bulldogs solidify their spot at the top of the CFP rankings with an easy win.

Georgia 38, LSU 14


ACC: No. 9 Clemson (-7.5) v. No. 23 North Carolina - 8:00 p.m. - ABC

Right now I don’t think I’d trust a team starting D.J. Uiagalelei as a half-point favorite, let alone a 7.5-point favorite. I know North Carolina has had their own issues the last few weeks, but I feel like they want to be here more than Clemson does, as the Tigers had their eyes on a CFP spot, which has disappeared after losses to Notre Dame and South Carolina. Let’s get wild and pick Drake Maye to lead the Tar Heels to victory on Saturday night.

North Carolina 35, Clemson 31


Big Ten: Purdue v. No. 2 Michigan (-17) - 8:00 p.m. - FOX

Last year after Michigan beat Ohio State and made it to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time, there was little doubt the Wolverines would beat up on Iowa to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. While it seems like a given Michigan will again win in Indianapolis, they might get a little more of a fight from the Boilermakers.

Some of the football the Boilermakers have played lately hasn’t been pretty, but in the end, all that matters is they won their final three games to secure the Big Ten West for the first time. Aidan O’Connell and Charlie Jones are a dangerous combination, and the Boilers can run the football a little bit with Devin Mockobee. Jones is three receptions away from 100 catches for the year, and just a yard away from 1,200 receiving yards.

Who knows how healthy Blake Corum will be for this game? Even if Corum is limited, Michigan still has Donovan Edwards, who eclipsed 200 yards last week against Michigan. Even though Purdue might not have the talent Ohio State has on defense, talent doesn’t matter if you are undisciplined as the Buckeyes were. The Boilers were quietly solid throughout the year, giving up less than 350 yards per game.

It’s weird to call a conference championship game a hangover/sandwich game, but I could see the Wolverines coming out of the gates a little slow. Last year Michigan didn’t really turn it on until the fourth quarter, as the score was 21-3 at the end of the third. There’s no question the Wolverines are the class of the conference, 17 points just seem like a little too much to give in this spot.

Michigan 33, Purdue 21

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

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


Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jacy Sheldon gives a short update on how she felt following her injury time away, Rikki Harris discusses her “Cold Game” and coach Kevin McGuff shares what changed the game

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


The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team played their second ranked opponent of the season. Like the first against the then No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers, it was a game where the first half gave no intention of Ohio State winning. Then a second half led to an ending of a double-digit 96-77 dominating win over perennial college basketball power in the Louisville Cardinals.

Following the win, guards Jacy Sheldon and Rikki Harris talked about the game, before head coach Kevin McGuff.

Sheldon discussed the biggest factor in the Buckeyes win, who was sitting right next to the guard during the media availability. Also, playing in front of a raucous crowd of Cardinal fans and how her lower leg injury feels after missing the last two games against Wright State and the University of North Alabama.

Harris, who sounds as sick as she was, talks about playing even though she couldn’t breathe, and not expecting to get as many minutes as she did. Plus, how her teammates lifted her performance, where this game ranks in her all-time games as a Buckeye and feeding off the Louisville crowd.

Coach McGuff then talks about how he leveraged experience to turn the game around, what Harris means to this Ohio State team and why freshman forward Cotie McMahon didn’t play as many minutes as she has to start the season.

That and more on the latest edition of “Land-Grant Holy Land Uncut.”


Connect with Thomas:

Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

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Previewing and predicting the conference championship games
David M Wheeler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Buckeyes are playing the waiting game | Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

The Buckeyes aren’t playing, but their CFP hopes hinge on the outcomes of Saturday’s conference title games.

We didn’t expect this week to seem so empty. We expected to be gearing up for yet another Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis. Didn’t happen.

No, the Buckeyes are idle this week, and the only game that they’re playing is the waiting game. But if things fall right, the Bucks could still find themselves in the playoffs. And, although last Saturday’s game would tend to lower confidence of success, the playoffs would offer an opportunity for redemption. Barring the playoffs, New Year’s Day would likely bring Ohio State back to Pasadena and the Granddaddy of Them All.

Starting Friday night, the Power Five conference championship games will keep us occupied, even if we can’t help but think “what might have been.” Below, I’ll preview the five matchups, and provide my take on what to expect.

(Odds change continually, and figures here were in place at the time this column was written).

PAC-12 Championship Game

Utah (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (11-1)

[USC -3]


Friday, Dec.2 — Las Vegas, NV. — 8:00 p.m. ET

The Trojans are a point away from an undefeated season, having lost 43-42 on Oct. 15 to... you guessed it, Utah. The championship game gives USC an opportunity to avenge that loss and demonstrate their conference supremacy. If you watched them handle Notre Dame last week, you know that the balanced offense, led by Heisman frontrunner Caleb Williams, is the real thing and averages 42.5 points per game. The defense, though, is sometimes suspect and can give up yards and points – to the run particularly. Lincoln Riley has done a good job with this team, and they look strong to me.

Utah, after its narrow loss to Ohio State in last year’s Rose Bowl, was ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP poll. The 29-26 opening game loss to a not-very-good Florida team sent that ranking spiraling, never again reaching better than 10th. The Southern Cal win, obviously, was the Utes’ signature victory, but they also beat a very good Washington Huskies team and lost to Oregon by only three points. UCLA, on the other hand, put up 42 points in beating the Utes by 10. Like USC, Utah sports a better offense than defense, so I think that we can expect another high-scoring game between the two.

Stakes for Ohio State? Pretty high. The Bucks could edge into the playoffs with a Trojan loss.

Southern Cal is in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot, however, and I don’t expect them to let the opportunity pass them by. USC 47-41.

Big 12 Championship Game

Kansas State (9-3) vs. TCU (12-0)

[TCU -2.5]


Saturday, Dec. 3 — Arlington, TX — 12:00 p.m. ET

Chris Klieman’s Wildcats were unranked at the beginning of the season, and didn’t see the top-25 until the end of September. They’ve been pretty consistent throughout the year. Kansas State clobbered Oklahoma State (ranked No. 9 at the time) 48-0, but dropped home games to Tulane (17-10) and Texas (34-27). The Wildcats and TCU met during the regular season, and the Horned Frogs won at home, 38-28. With three losses, K-State has no playoff aspirations, but knocking off undefeated TCU and winning the Big 12 provides plenty of incentive.

TCU has surprised me all season. I kept expecting them to lose, and they didn’t. So, here they are now, one game away from the playoffs. Coach Sonny Dykes should surely be in the running for coach of the year. This kind of success wasn’t predicted. The Frogs weren’t ranked in the AP poll until they beat Oklahoma 55-24. Then folks started to take notice. They’ve had quite a few close wins – Kansas by seven, Oklahoma State by three, Baylor by one – but you get those in magical seasons. And this one has been magical.

Stakes for Ohio State? It’s hard to say if the committee would slot a one-loss TCU (it would have to be a close loss) ahead of a one-loss Buckeye team. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Cheer for the Wildcats here.

TCU won fairly handily in the first game. I really don’t expect the rematch to be much different in what is actually a home game for the Horned Frogs. I see TCU winning, 42-30.

SEC Championship Game

LSU (9-3) vs. Georgia (12-0)

[Georgia -17.5]


Saturday, Dec. 3 — Atlanta, GA — 4:00 p.m. ET

LSU’s 15-point loss this past week to Texas A&M was a real stinker. So bad that it made the wins over Bama and Ole Miss look like flukes. Maybe they were. LSU’s other losses were to Florida State (24-23) and Tennessee (40-13). Obviously, Brian Kelly’s team has a bit of a consistency problem. The Tigers’ scoring offense and scoring defense both rank in the 30s nationally. Not bad. but not good enough.

Georgia, the defending national champions, haven’t been ranked worse than No. 3 all year, and that was the preseason ranking before they trounced Oregon 49-3 in the season opener. The only close call the Dawgs had all year was (surprisingly) at Missouri on Oct. 1, a game in which they finally pulled out a four-point win. Scoring offense and defense rankings? No. 3 and No. 1, respectively. I’ve said many times that Georgia is the country’s best team.

Stakes for Ohio State? None. Georgia is in. LSU can’t make the playoffs, even with a miraculous upset.

Georgia is still on the mission that they accomplished last year. Georgia, fairly easily, 38-17.

Big Ten Championship Game

Purdue (8-4) vs. Michigan (12-0)

[Michigan -16]


Saturday, Dec. 3 — Indianapolis, IN — 8:00 p.m. ET

The Big Ten West was a messy race all year. When the dust finally cleared on Saturday night, Purdue was the last team standing. While the Boilermakers deserve our congratulations, the fact remains that they have the worst resumé of any of these conference championship contenders.

Close losses to Penn State and Syracuse started their season. Later losses at Wisconsin (by 11) and at home to Iowa (by 21) and mediocre wins against Florida Atlantic (by two) and Maryland (by two) tell us what we need to know about this team. They’re in the game because of victories over Illinois and Minnesota. Purdue has a decent passing game, but I don’t see them stopping Michigan.

Michigan, too, is on a mission – one that might well give them the rematch with Georgia for all the marbles. Weak schedule. Lucky against the Illini. But all that grumbling stopped after the Wolverines humbled Ohio State in the Shoe. TTUN may not cover the spread, but I don’t see them stumbling in this one.

Stakes for Ohio State? Really none. Even if Michigan loses, it will get the nod over the Buckeyes.

I don’t expect a repeat of all of those big plays to give Michigan quick touchdowns, but they’ll dominate, nonetheless. Michigan 35-17.

ACC Championship Game

Clemson (10-2) vs. North Carolina (9-3)

[Clemson -7.5]


Saturday, Dec. 3 — Charlotte, NC — 8:00 p.m. ET

Other than Tiger and Tar Heel fans, will anyone be watching this game? The winner – whichever team that it is – doesn’t have a chance of a playoff bid. As I’ve said, Georgia and Michigan are in. If USC and TCU both fall, Alabama and Ohio State are there to grab their spots.

Clemson struggled all year. Neither the offense nor defense is any longer elite. The narrow home loss to in-state rival South Carolina tells us that Dabo’s boys are good, but not really good enough. The loss to Notre Dame was outright ugly, and Clemson squeaked by on several of their wins. They’re no longer in the top echelon of teams nationally.

UNC? They’re averaging 37 points a game, an offense that makes them competitive in all contests. But they’re giving up 30.3 points a game, a defense that puts every game in jeopardy. It’s hard to gauge this team. The Tar Heels struggled to beat two Sun Belt teams – App. State and Georgia State — and lost their last two games, both at home, to Georgia Tech and NC State. So, neither team finished strongly, and both come into this one limping.

Stakes for Ohio State? Absolutely none.

Someone will have to win. Clemson is favored and would like to salvage something from this season. But UNC has nothing to lose, and I see Mack Brown pulling out all the stops. UNC 38-35.


So, there they are. This weekend’s viewing menu. Buckeye fans should cheer for Utah on Friday night and for Kansas State in the early game Saturday. Come 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, we should know where things stand. Both Nick Saban and Ryan Day are lobbying for their teams to be the next one in after Georgia, Michigan, TCU, and Southern Cal.

The Buckeyes should hope that both the Trojans and Horned Frogs lose, then try to regroup for a championship run if things break their way.

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Film Review: Key moments defined Ohio State’s 45-23 loss to Michigan
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 Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

Ohio State lost this game the minute Michigan responded. Key moments on both sides of the ball tell that story.

Ohio State’s loss to Michigan is still weighing heavy on the minds of the Buckeye faithful, with many people are already looking forward to what’s next due to the defeat. The Buckeyes ended up on the wrong side of a lopsided scoreboard, 45-23, but unlike last year there wasn’t a physical dominance in the trenches until late.

The Buckeyes did not lose this game due to bad scheme, bad execution, or players not wanting it bad enough. They lost because they were unable to make plays in key moments, and with their inability to come up big in those spots, Michigan was able to break the will of Ohio State on both sides of the ball. As many have written this week, the mental aspect failed the Buckeyes to a greater effect than any scheme could.

Looking at those key moments will help make sense of where Ohio State went wrong, how Michigan was able to attack Ohio State, and why the Buckeyes lost their grip after both teams went into the halftime. Questionable coaching decisions in big spots and defensive lapses defined this matchup, not a physical imposition.

Ohio State needed to make changes last year, and after rewatching the matchup, the Buckeyes will need to look in the mirror this year.


Through much of the first half Ohio State was in control of the game at the line of scrimmage. They had found a run game with Chip Trayanum. Up to this point, the Buckeyes offense had converted a couple of short yardage third down situations. Ryan Day had an inventive first drive, and the Buckeyes had moved the ball at will between the 20s until this play.

On 4th down in the first quarter, the Buckeyes were trying to make an aggressive play. They had settled for a field goal in a similar situation previously to go up 10-7. Day gets into the Bison-personnel look with three tight ends on the field. They motion Gee Scott Jr. down to sell the run and Michigan bites. This gives Stroud a one-on-one throw.

There are two issues here: Day overthinking this after successfully running the ball, and the decision to throw the ball to Cade Stover against man coverage rather than one of your star wide receivers.

This is the level of confidence a play-caller needs, and if the play was executed, the game could have turned at this point. Instead, Day loses his edge after this, starting in a crucial situation he decides to play conservatively.


Offensively the Buckeyes lost their confidence after the failed 4th down conversion attempt, but what happened next played a bigger role in Michigan taking over the game against Ohio State. After turning the ball over on downs, the Buckeyes’ defense came out strong, forcing Michigan into another 3rd-and-long scenario. Jim Knowles was brought in to fix Ohio State’s defense, and philosophically this has been done by being aggressive.

The only issues with being aggressive is everybody has to do their job for that to work. Michigan drops back and Ohio State brings a max pressure playing Cover-0 behind the blitzers. Cam Brown is one-on-one with no help over the top. The blitz forces McCarthy into retreating and throwing the ball off of his back foot. Cornelius Johnson is able to make the catch, and this is where the play falls apart.

Brown jumps inside and lunges at the receiver to make the tackle. By playing with bad tackling technique, Johnson is able to get outside away from any potential pursuing defenders and takes it to the house. From there, Ohio State’s defense was not the same.


The next series, Michigan strikes again. At this point they’ve found the weakness they’re going to attack, and that is Ohio State’s secondary. Knowles’ plan in this matchup was to take away the run, and by committing to that he put his defensive backs into tough positions. After the last series, Knowles changed up how the Buckeyes would defend, leaving the defenders back.

Ohio State had been getting consistent pressure on McCarthy and forcing him into uncomfortable throws early. This is why after the big play he brought in an additional defensive back, and that being Cam Martinez getting his first snaps was questionable. Michigan runs a hard play-action and Johnson runs an incredible route. He gets Martinez turned the wrong way and then breaks off to the middle of the field.

Knowles abandoning what made his defense special in the aggressive nature led to another long touchdown, and the Buckeyes’ confidence was shot.


Ohio State bounced back one last time, and the frustrating aspect about the next play is Day did not take any shots like this again until it was much too late. The play is simple. Michigan brings pressure and this leaves Marvin Harrison Jr. outside in single coverage. Stroud delivers a bomb and the Buckeyes take the lead with a few minutes to go in the half.

During the stretch when Ohio State won 19 out of 20, the Buckeyes dominated with a belief that their talent would prevail. Where Day went wrong was not trusting his playmakers in key situations, and making the questionable decision to have so many designed plays to Cade Stover when Marvin Harrison Jr. exists.

A snap of the finger and the two best offensive players combined for a score.


Despite the Buckeyes regaining the lead, the Wolverines already had Ohio State beat. After the two big touchdowns, Ohio State was questioning everything and playing with no conviction. Every step was second guessed outside of a couple plays in the second half.

Michigan runs an inside zone read option here, and they are reading J.T. Tuimoloau the defensive end. Tuimoloau dives inside towards the running back, creating an obvious read for McCarthy. The issue is Tuimoloau has help on the inside with the linebackers and safeties. By jumping inside, McCarthy is able to turn the corner with a full head of steam, and when he gets to the second level, this is where you see the first sign of defeat on Ohio State’s side.

Tuimoloau takes a bad angle, attempting a weak arm tackle. Denzel Burke throws his body at him, leaving his feet without wrapping up, and Tanner McAlister is so focused on getting the strip he gets carried an additional five yards. The Buckeyes’ effort tackling was exactly what you’d see the remainder of the game. Michigan had already won.


On the next play, Michigan is driving the football down the field and Ohio State is playing on their heels after McCarthy’s run outside. Joel Klatt does the work here for me, showing what went wrong. If you pause at the 0:07 mark, you can see the defensive backs staring at the quarterback, and neither are playing the tight end after the receiver falls.

The pressure Ohio State brings doesn’t get home, McCarthy steps up in the pocket to make the throw. He delivers to another receiver running alone past the coverage. Ohio State’s defensive backs are beat once again.


The last play on offense that told the story of this game was the decision on this 3rd-and-3 at the 50-yard line. Ohio State is looking for a response. As stated previously, they did not go to Harrison Jr. or Egbuka in these situations until the closing minutes of the game when it was out of hand.

Throughout the year, Day has made some questionable decisions in these situations, and even said he felt like he was running his head into a wall. Well, so were Ohio State fans when he decided to call a toss play to a player in his first game at running back all season.

This play is over from the start. After Stover motions across, Michigan knows exactly where the ball is going. Stover has horrendous effort in his block, and this forces Trayanum to bounce the run even further outside. The receiver vacates his block to come down, and now Traynum has two defenders to beat before he even gets to the line of scrimmage.

This was a play-call that took too much time to get in, and also took too much time to develop in this situation. Michigan’s defense is built to handle inside and outside runs in these scenarios. They play gap sound responsibility football. This allows them to stop the Ohio State back short.


But that was not all. The Buckeyes folded. They were done, and psychologically beaten. The very next set of plays told the story of Ryan Day against Michigan this year. Everyone has seen the screen shots of the fake punt, but here are two from the play. The first shows how Jesse Mirco does not look ready to catch the ball.

In the second image, you can see a hole and enough space for Mitch Rossi to find the endzone. Whether it was a miscommunication or the fake was called off after the snap infraction the play before, this was an opportunity to be aggressive. They backed off, and the next Michigan drive was an 8-minute drive to give the Wolverines a two-score lead. Ohio State would drive down one more time, settling for a cowardly field goal.




The game could be surmised by simply saying one team took advantage of opportunities and the others backed down from them. Ohio State was not beat Saturday because Michigan had better players, they were not beat because they weren’t physical enough. They were beat mentally.

Even when the Buckeyes had the lead, you can feel the tenseness in the moment that was too big for the Buckeyes. Day became conservative, not trusting himself, which in turn led to the players losing belief. In quite a few crucial points you can see the eagerness in quarterback C.J. Stroud’s face, the look of give us a shot and we’ll make it happen. But Day backed away in too many crucial moments.

This was the case on the defensive side of the ball as well. After the first touchdown Michigan scored, Knowles backed off. Once they backed off, it opened up another opportunity for Michigan to strike down field. Knowles was no longer aggressive and never committed to anything specific. Michigan was able to run the ball down the stretch, and the lack of belief led to the two home runs that put the game away.

Comparing the last two games against Michigan, this one should sting a lot more. At home, losing the battle from a mental standpoint is unacceptable, and it starts with the coaches. One team played with no fear, a strong belief, and willingness to fight even when things weren’t going well. The other puffed their chest out and ran once they got punched in the mouth.

This game was decided by moments, and in key moments the Buckeyes came up short. Now ensues another offseason of looking in the mirror and evaluating what went wrong. This time around, the Buckeyes will have to dig even deeper to find a solution.

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Game Notes: No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball’s 33-point swing vs. No. 18 Louisville
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Buckeyes come away from their first ranked away game with a 19-point win

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team entered halftime of Wednesday’s game at the University of Louisville down eight points. It wasn’t a bad deficit considering they were down 14 halfway through the second quarter. In the final 20 minutes, the Buckeyes surged ahead, turning another potential defeat into a confident 96-77 victory.

Game Notes discusses coach Kevin McGuff’s decision that helped turn it around, a big night by a guard and playing through illness.

Rikki Harris’ Cold Game


On June 11, 1997, men’s basketball great, and Chicago Bull, Michael Jordan played in “The Flu Game,” where the NBA superstar scored 38 points in game five of the NBA Finals versus the Utah Jazz. Wednesday’s game, while it wasn’t a playoff night, featured a similar performance under similar stress.

“I don’t feel good,” said Harris after the game. “I have a cold and they just kept me going. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting to play that much.”

Harris played 35 minutes off the bench, more minutes than three starting teammates. In a game that began with the Cardinals out-rebounding the Buckeyes 10-5, Harris entered the game and didn’t look back.

Even though Harris said she couldn’t breathe throughout the game, she grabbed 10 rebounds and six assists, on top of five points. It was Harris’ best statistical performance of the year after shifting from a 2021-22 starter to a role player off the bench.

It was a performance worthy of the Buckeyes’ dub chain and applause from teammate Jacy Sheldon who named her as the reason Ohio State won. Coach McGuff had nothing but admiration for the guard too.

“She’s the heart and soul of our team in many ways, just from a competitive character standpoint,” said McGuff. “She got tough rebound after tough rebound tonight, dove on the floor for loose balls. Just a great performance and we really really needed it.”

Leaning on Experience


Coach McGuff made many changes throughout the game to try and combat a talented Louisville side, but the best came in his third-quarter personnel decision.

The Cardinals shot their eight-point halftime lead to 13, scoring the first two baskets of the second half. From there though, a four-guard set of Sheldon, Harris, Madison Greene, and Taylor Mikesell (with Taylor Thierry as forward), took over the game.

McGuff went that route to get the most experience on the court. Citing too many first-half turnovers, the coach added Greene and Harris, both redshirt juniors, to the mix and it paid dividends.

After being down in the turnover margin for the first half, the adjustment put Ohio State up at the end of the 40 minutes, with 24 forced turnovers to 20 given away. The four also scored 18 of the Buckeyes' 28 in the quarter, with Mikesell and Greene leading the way.

While freshman forward Cotie McMahon started, McGuff benched the player early in favor of the older set of players, but it’s not indicative of his views on McMahon as a player.

“She’s going to be a spectacular player for us, and everyone’s seen how good she is already,” said McGuff. “But in this particular game, I wanted to lean on our experience.”

Jacy Sheldon Feels Great


A toss-up going into the Wednesday top-25 matchup was Sheldon. The guard missed the previous two Buckeye wins, due to a lower leg injury. Ohio State posted pre-game photos of Sheldon without the boot on her foot and a start followed.

Sheldon said she felt great in the game, playing to a 22-point night with three assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 39 minutes.

Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jacy Sheldon (right) also grabbed a block in the final minutes of the game on guard Hailey Van Lith (left)

The highlight of the game came in the fourth quarter. With a seven-point Buckeyes lead, Sheldon received a pass on the wing, with All-American-caliber guard Hailey Van Lith defending. Sheldon did a crossover to fake a run to the paint and Van Lith bit and stumbled back a few steps. That gave the guard the room to hit the three and extend the lead to double-digits for the first time, with it never going under 10 points the rest of the night.

Silencing the Yum!


The KFC Yum! Center is Louisville’s home, and the Cardinals boast loud and rowdy fans, of all ages. Every shot erupted the arena and every foul against them elicited immediate constructive criticism to the officials.

That environment appeared to rattle the Buckeyes early, taking over a quarter before finding their footing for more consistent periods of time. Sheldon and the Buckeyes had thoughts on playing in an arena like in Wednesday’s game.

“That’s the best part,” said Sheldon. “Any competitor loves that, their intensity. They had a great crowd and they played off of it, but I think we did too.”

“We don’t mind a loud crowd,” added Harris. “It gets us going.”

Ohio State’s win stopped a Louisville 48-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents. Also, the Buckeyes forced an early exit for most, with the arena beginning to file out within a few minutes of the fourth quarter.

Forwards Play Big


Playing forward all night were Thierry and Rebeka Mikulášiková. They started together but ended up alternating in the five-position for the second half when Ohio State clawed back to lead in the game.

Even though Thierry fouled out, her performance was another sign of things to come for the Buckeyes sophomore. In the second quarter, Thierry kept Ohio State in the game with three rebounds, two on offense. Those led to second-chance buckets for the Scarlet & Gray. While Thierry didn’t attack the basket as often on Wednesday, scoring seven points overall, the couple of times she did result in positive points and drew fouls from the home Cardinals.

Mikulášiková had a game herself. The forward had 21 points and five rebounds on the night. Most of those points came from movement inside the paint. The footwork near the basket was great for the Slovakian. Mikulášiková spun around defenders, hitting layups, and got to the line twice for her efforts. The forward only took one three, missing the attempt, making the point total more impressive as Mikulášiková’s excellent season continues.

Taylor Mikesell’s Night


Ohio State made eight threes on Wednesday, and half of those came from Mikesell. The Massillon, Ohio guard scored her season high with 26 points, plus two assists and two rebounds.

The Buckeyes haven’t needed Mikesell to take over games like she did in 2021-22, but Wednesday she answered the call to get Ohio State back into the game and surge ahead. In Ohio State’s first lead of the game, Mikesell was integral.

Mikesell headed to the free throw line for three shots, with Ohio State down two. The First Team All-B1G guard missed the third shot, and a second-chance layup, but kept up with the play and made the third-chance attempt. Mikesell fought like that all night, playing every minute of the game.

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In Conversation Podcast: Gus Johnson tells Ohio State not to panic
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Hampton by Hilton

FOX’s voice of college football also shares the origin behind OSU’s “World Famous” nickname.

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

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


In a very special episode of LGHL In Conversation, Matt Tamanini talks to one of the most beloved voices in all of broadcasting, FOX’s Gus Johnson. The de facto voice of the Big Ten gives advice to Buckeye fans from his perspective following Ohio State’s loss in the regular season finale last week. He also talks about what OSU would need to do in order to get a different outcome should they face Michigan for a second time in the College Football Playoffs.

Johnson also shares the very personal story behind the “World Famous” nickname that he has given Ohio State this season. Also, since there is practically no one who travels as much as Gus, he also shares some pro tips for folks traveling this holiday season, including, if you’ve seen the commercials, his love of the waffles at Hampton Inns!


Make holiday reservations at Hampton:
http://www.hamptonbyhilton.com

Connect with Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt

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Buckeyes look to be in good position for a top 2024 offensive lineman
Caleb Houser 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

Thanks to a Crystal Ball submission, Ohio State is in a great spot for a top 2024 lineman

We are less than a week removed from the regular season finale that went nowhere near as expected, and moods probably still aren’t much better. However, time isn’t stopping and the news surrounding the Buckeyes recruiting continues to roll. Reports of Brian Hartline planning to interview for the Cincinnati job started to swirl on Wednesday, and from both a recruiting and development stance, that would be a major blow to Ohio State overall.

It comes with the territory when you have success that others want to poach your top employees, but this move wouldn’t be liked by anyone with Ohio State ties considering how well Hartline has done in every aspect of his position. Taking into consideration the players he’s bringing in this current 2023 cycle, you start to worry when you think of him potentially heading to another program, and what that could mean for the class this late in the game. Still, it’s just an interview — reportedly — and nothing is set in stone right now.

On the flip side, there’s still optimism to be discussed concerning Ohio State. Though The Game didn’t go as planned, the Buckeyes, with some help mind you, are still a possible playoff team. On the recruiting front, top targets are still very much in the mix for the Buckeyes. Not all is lost, and that’s what we all need to hear after the last week.

2024 lineman pegged to Ohio State


The trenches for Ohio State right now aren’t down by any means, but when you want to talk about beating your rival who takes pride in running the ball, your linemen on both sides better be stout and up to the challenge. On the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes under Justin Frye were improved in comparison to last year. Not perfect, they still paved the way for one of the better offenses in the country. Moving forward, the expectation is that not only does the development continue to improve, but the recruiting as well, with that being a theme since Frye got to Columbus.

Knowing each cycle is pivotal for reloading up front, Frye will be all over the country looking to bring in the top talent at his position group. With one commit already in the fold for the 2024 class thanks to Indiana native Ian Moore, the Buckeyes are off to a solid start, but are looking to continue that trend while bringing in more of their top targets. Moore being an interior lineman, Frye can continue looking at all the positions up front. Yesterday showed a glimpse into what could be good news for his haul down the road.

Thanks to a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in Ohio State’s favor, the Buckeyes are being linked to 2024 interior lineman, Jordan Seaton. The No. 42 player nationally, Seaton is the top ranked player at his position and the second best player from Washington D.C. for his class per the 247Sports Composite. One of the higher ranked players of any position in the class, this would be a massive addition for the Buckeyes, and a big step towards not rebuilding the offensive line, but reloading it with elite national talent.

Though the Crystal Ball isn’t a guarantee the individual making the prediction does matter. In this case, Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong, making this submission isn’t worth looking past. With 30 offers to his name from the top programs in the country such as Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and many more, the Buckeyes look to be in great position right now, and hopefully will be able to lock this one down in the near future.

Quick Hits

• Not everything on Saturday was doom and gloom. Though it wasn’t the outcome Ohio State wanted, recruits who had the opportunity to take in a game day atmosphere in Columbus came away impressed even with a loss.

Taking to his Twitter account, 2024 receiver Elijah Moore (Olney, Maryland/Good Counsel) shared that his positive vibes he had after being on campus this past weekend and what the Buckeyes did to impress him. The No. 54 receiver in the country per the 247Sports Composite, Moore does not currently hold an Ohio State offer, but does from the likes of Florida State, USC, Maryland, Kentucky, and more.


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No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball comes back to beat No. 18 Louisville Cardinals 96-77
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Twitter | @OhioStateWBB

In their second ranked game of the season, the Buckeyes come back from 14 down to win their second ranked game of the season.

After a run of four games without much competition for the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the schedule took a sharp turn towards the highly competitive. The Buckeyes traveled south for a game against the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals, a team not meeting their own high expectations. In a game that looked like a Cardinals win for three quarters, Ohio State fought back from a 14-point deficit to win 96-77.

A boost for the visiting Buckeyes was the availability of guard Jacy Sheldon. Leading into the game, the guard missed two straight games with a lower leg injury, listed as day-to-day by head coach Kevin McGuff and the training staff. Sheldon started the game and right away picked up where she left off, grabbing a steal on the Cardinals' first possession.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they had trouble capitalizing on that turnover and a second on the Cardinals' second possession. The intensity of the home fans created a tough environment for Ohio State, and the Cardinals ever-changing defensive schemes caused initial issues for the Scarlet & Gray.

Leading the Cardinals early was graduate guard Morgan Jones. The Florida State transfer was aggressive, grabbing two steals of her own and scoring seven points in the first four minutes.

The shooting for Ohio State wasn’t with normal, open looks they’ve been able to create this season. Instead, the pressure from Louisville, and the Buckeyes unable to break it, put Ohio State down 12-3 with under four minutes to play in the first quarter. That’s when Ohio State went on a quick run.

In just over two minutes, the Buckeyes had five points from guard Taylor Mikesell in a nine-point run to bring the game even. Part of that run included plays by forwards Rebeka Mikulášiková and Taylor Thierry.

Mikulášiková started things off with a steal and was on the end of the final pass of the run down the court, hitting the layup. On the next possession, Thierry had a block on edge of the paint, making what looked like a tough start of the game for Ohio State into a more competitive contest.

What did the Buckeyes in, giving the home side another lead, was rebounding. The Cardinals out-rebounded the Buckeyes 10-5 in the first quarter. On one play, the Ohio State defense successfully forced a tough, contested, shot from deep to beat the buzzer. The shot hit off the rim but no Buckeyes were there to fight for it, and two Louisville players had an easy rebound and follow-up layup.

Louisville entered the second quarter up 28-15, going on a 13-6 run to end the quarter. Part of the Cardinals' bump was outstanding junior guard Hailey Van Lith, scoring six in that run but mostly from the free throw line.

Fouls kept Ohio State from pressing as much, getting into trouble early, and putting the home team in the bonus. There were some odd calls in the first half, including one on guard Madison Greene, who came off the bench for the Buckeyes, when after her shot she collided with a Louisville player, puzzling Greene and coach McGuff.

In the second quarter, Ohio State got into potential trouble when Mikulášiková and forward Olivia Cochran collided on a Mikesell three. Going to the ground hard, Mikulášiková needed a minute to get up, and favored her left leg before the action continued. She stayed in the game, but after picking up her second foul of the half, went off the court and into the tunnel.

Mikulášiková returned before the half was done, but when she was off the court, McGuff went with a smaller lineup of Sheldon, Mikesell, Greene, guard Rikki Harris, and Thierry in as the forward for rebounding purposes.

With Thierry playing as the big, the Buckeyes settled down and kept up with rebounding, with both sides grabbing nine in the second quarter. Ohio State began getting open, with Sheldon and Greene each hitting open threes, trimming the Louisville lead to six at one point.

Ohio State ended up going into the halftime locker room down eight, in a 45-37 game.

The start to the third quarter was tough for the Buckeyes, looking like Louisville was going to begin turning the screw. The Cardinals hit a three and midrange jumper to go up 13 points, but Ohio State went running again.

In the visitors' 11-point run, Thierry contributed both offensively and defensively. Showing the same confidence she's built early this year, Thierry found space hitting a layup. To follow up the two points, Thierry ran up behind Louisville’s Jones for a steal, without Jones knowing it was coming.

What stood out in the run was the diversity of scoring. Every Buckeye on the court scored at least a point in Ohio State’s 15-2 run, putting Ohio State level with the Cardinals for only the second time in the game.

Then, it felt like the Buckeyes finally settled into their game. Like their first game of the season, the third quarter saw Ohio State earn their first lead of the game and they achieved it in an unexpected way — rebounding.

Ohio State out-rebounded the Cardinals 11 to 6, with Greene and Harris getting into the trenches with three apiece.

With 2:51 left in the third, Mikesell got to the line for three free throws, and the third would‘ve put Ohio State in the lead but she hit it off the iron. The Buckeyes not only grabbed the first rebound, going to Mikesell for a missed layup, but two on the offensive boards with Mikesell determined to put the Buckeyes ahead, hitting a floater in the paint to go up two points.

In the home of Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali, both teams went blow-for-blow to end the third, but Ohio State held onto their two-point lead at the end of the third, up 65-63.

The final quarter initially lacked a lot of momentum. Early fouls and timeouts by both teams turned the first two minutes into more of a slog, but trudging through it effectively was the Buckeyes.

Ohio State did it through inventive moves to the basket and different screen looks for the Louisville defense. The Buckeyes grew a two-point lead entering the fourth into a 14-point lead on a 14-point run.

Louisville was obviously frustrated, missing nine of their first 11 shots in the first 4:30 of the quarter.

Sheldon, on her return, had five of those 14 points, including a highlight reel move on First Team All-ACC guard Van Lith. From beyond the arc, Sheldon crossed the guard over, causing her to fall back a couple of steps. Sheldon hit the open three. Immediately after, Louisville guard Chrislyn Carr showed the home side’s frustration, knocking Harris over from deep, in a rough foul.

The final four minutes looked like the end of the third, with Louisville trying to find a lead again, but Ohio State held on to beat the No. 18 Cardinals 96-77.

Sheldon Strikes Back


The presence of the Buckeyes' starting point guard was missed over the last two games, even if the scores didn’t resemble it.

In Sheldon’s return, the press looked better and Ohio State forced 23 turnovers with the returning guard grabbing two herself. Points-wise, Sheldon had 22, even though it felt like a quieter performance considering how tough the Buckeyes looked in the first half.

Adding to the fun, with 1:25 left in the fourth, and the Buckeyes up 21 points, Sheldon even blocked a Van Lith three from the corner.

Rebounding Rebounding Rebounding


An Achilles heel of the Buckeyes from last season, into this year, was rebounding. Wednesday was a perfect example of how it hurts and helps coach McGuff’s side. As Ohio State began showing fight in the paint, their extra possession turned into extra points. Also, once the points drop, the pressure increases.

Every Buckeye grabbed a rebound in the game, with not only one or two players taking control of the glass. Leading the game was substitute Harris with 10.

Making Adjustments


A key to the Buckeyes' victory was McGuff’s adjustments in game. Going small in the second quarter allowed a group of four quick guards to get around a Louisville group of forwards who were pestering Ohio State all game.

Entering the second half, coach McGuff also kept Cotie McMahon, who got into foul trouble and played only two second-quarter minutes, on the bench. That was in favor of Greene who along with Sheldon gave Ohio State multiple facilitators on the court.

Greene’s hot hand was good for 14 points and five assists in the game. Rewarding the decision by the Buckeyes coach.

What’s Next


The Buckeyes now focus on Big Ten play. Sunday, Ohio State is back on the road, this time heading to New Jersey to face Rutgers University. After an early 11:00 a.m. ET Thursday game against the New Hampshire Wildcats, Big Ten play returns for the first home conference game of the season against the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, Dec. 11.

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Buckeyes claw back but fall to Duke, 81-72 in final Big Ten-ACC Challenge
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State kept it close throughout, but was never able to close the gap.

Following a 2-1 showing at the Maui Invitational last week, the No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) flew to Durham to take on the No. 17 Duke Blue Devils (7-2) at legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game was part of the last ever Big Ten-ACC Challenge, which has been discontinued after 23 seasons.

Unlike the Buckeyes, Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils were coming off a loss their last time out, getting thumped 75-56 by the Purdue Boilermakers in the final game of the PK Invitational in Portland, Oregon on Sunday evening.

The Duke student section filled up early and let the Buckeyes have it from warmups onward, letting the visitors know that walking out of Durham with a win would be no easy task.

The task of winning on the road inside a hot, raucous Cameron Indoor Stadum did in fact prove to be too tall a task for this Buckeye team, as they fought till the end, but ultimately fell short against Duke, 81-72. Duke’s run late in the second half where they turned a two-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead was too steep for the 25th-ranked Buckeyes to overcome in the second half.

Chris Holtmann rolled out the same starting five he’s used all season long: Bruce Thornton, Sean McNeil, Isaac Likekele, Justice Sueing, and Zed Key — who was the difference in last season’s win against Duke at home. Jon Scheyer countered with Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, Kyle Filpowski, and Dereck Lively Jr.

Ohio State started hot courtesy of five points from McNeil right away, going up 5-0 after two minutes of play. But the Blue Devils got a spark from former Fighting Illini guard Jacob Grandison, who chipped in a layup and a triple for five early points of his own. Ohio State led 10-9 at the first media timeout.

The two teams continued to go punch-for-punch for much of the first half, with the Blue Devils shooting it at a higher clip while at the same time turning it over more than they typically do. Ohio State led 22-20 at the under-eight media timeout at the 7:13 mark, despite the Blue Devils’ seven offensive rebounds over that time frame. The Buckeyes got buckets from six different players over the first 13 minutes.

Proctor’s three-pointer at the 5:42 mark made it 25-22 Duke, and after Likekele split a pair of free throws, Ryan Young scored below the basket to make it 27-23. Chris Holtmann called a timeout as the Cameron Crazies began to raise the noise a few decibels.


Duke took a 39-29 lead at halftime, outscoring Ohio State 18-7 over the final 8:38. Sueing’s two fouls hurt, as he played sparingly during the first half. The Buckeyes had nearly as many turnovers (10) and fouls (10) in the first half as they had made baskets (12), which typically is not a recipe for success. Filipowski led eight Duke scorers in the first half with nine points.

Duke pushed their lead out to 13 points early in the first half, but the Buckeyes were able to keep it within arm’s reach (generally) in the opening minutes of the first half. The two teams looked pretty evenly matched, but that stretch late in the first half where Duke pulled ahead was very costly for the Buckeyes, who now had to make up the deficit. Duke took a 52-46 lead into the under-12 media timeout with 11:57 remaining.

Ohio State continued to push it, cutting the deficit to five points repeatedly, but Duke still led 64-56 with 7:55 remaining in the game. Sueing and Key emerged in the second half to really push the Blue Devils, but the Buckeyes continued to shoot themselves in the foot with repeated turnovers — something they did not do at Maui last week.

The Buckeyes refused to die, answering nearly every Blue Devil basket with one of their own. But following a McNeil three that cut the lead to 72-67 with three minutes remaining, Filipowski snuck free and scored beneath the basket, while absorbing contact from Sueing. A foul was called, and Duke took a 74-67 lead with just 2:37 remaining.

Sueing and Key were both forceful in the second half, but turnovers and their inability to grab a defensive rebound bit them time and time again. Despite cutting the deficit to five points on more than one occasion, the Buckeyes suffered their second defeat of the season.

If you didn’t catch Ohio State’s loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor, here are a few key moments and played that mattered the most.

McNeil puts Buckeyes up early


After putting up 22, 5, and 13 points apiece at the Maui Invitational, McNeil got the Buckeyes going with five quick points over the first two minutes of this one. He canned a three-pointer over the head of Mitchell to open the scoring, and then dropped in a soft floater from just in front of the basket with 18:15 to go in the first half to make it 5-0 Buckeyes.

Sueing picks up two early fouls, sits


Fresh off a 33-point performance in Maui, Sueing picked up two fouls over the first 3:09 of the game and had to sit for the majority of the first half. He only played 11 first-half minutes, scoring three points on 1-4 shooting.

Grandison returns to haunt Buckeyes as a Blue Devil


Ohio State was already familiar with Jacob Grandison heading into this game, as the transfer guard played three seasons at Illinois and was a knockdown shooter throughout his tenure with the Illini. However, he was only averaging 5.5 points per game through Duke’s first eight games.

Tonight, Grandison knocked down three early shots to outdo his season average in the first six minutes of the game. He hit a three and two layups for seven early points.

Filipowski’s and-one ties it at 20


With Ohio State leading 20-17 with 8:50 to go in the first half, Roddy Gayle had his pocket picked at midcourt by Filipowski. Filipowski took it to the basket himself, as Gayle tried to stand firm to draw a charge, but Filipowski dropped the teardrop in the bucket and Gayle was called for a blocking foul. The big Duke freshman hit the free throw, tying the game at 20-20.

Likekele’s FT snaps a cold spell


The Buckeyes went scoreless for about three and a half minutes, with no points between Likekele's layup at the 8:38 mark and his free throw at 5:02. During that stretch, Duke turned a 22-20 deficit into a 25-22 lead.

Devils dominate the offensive glass


Duke was as good on the glass as advertised, out-rebounding Ohio State 19-17 in the first half while also grabbing nine offensive rebounds. The Blue Devils turned those nine offensive rebounds into nine first-half points, en route to a 39-29 halftime lead.

Roach T’d up, Buckeyes pull back within 10 for 21 seconds


Leading 45-33 in the second half, Duke’s Jeremy Roach was T’d up below the basket following a Lively dunk when he picked the ball up and tossed the ball in the direction of Isaac Likekele. McNeil hit both technical free throws to cut it back to a 10-point game, but Duke went the opposite way and got yet another dunk from the 7-foot-1 freshman center Lively at the 15:55 mark to make it 47-35 — a 12-point deficit yet again.

Key’s and-one gets Ohio State within six, but Duke hits the bonus with over 12 minutes remaining


As the saying goes, you have to beat Duke by 10 at Cameron Indoor to win by one. Whether the fouls on the Buckeyes during the second half were the product of home cooking, lack of discipline, or a little of both, Sensabaugh’s offensive foul with 12:20 remaining was Ohio State’s seventh, meaning Duke shot free throws on every Buckeye foul the rest of the way.

However, Key’s spinning and-one layup on the right side of the basket with 11:57 left in the game got the Buckeyes within six points, and the ensuing free throw made it 52-47.

The Zebras, they’re taking over!


It’s important to note that this game had absolutely no rhythm as both teams racked up foul after foul after foul, especially in the second half. Duke picked up their seventh team foul with 10 minutes remaining — two minutes after Ohio State. Through the first 30 minutes of tonight’s game, the two teams combined for a whopping 34 fouls, meaning every single tick-tack foul sent someone to the free-throw line.

Speaking of which, Sueing and Key both made layups — plus the foul — at the 10:00 mark (Sueing) and 9:25 mark (Key), which brought Ohio State back within five points, 59-54.

Filipowski’s and-one bucket gives Duke much-needed breathing room


Moments after McNeil snapped off a corner three-pointer that cut Duke’s lead to 72-67, the big freshman Filipowski scored below the basket and was fouled by Sueing as well — his fourth. The free throw was good, giving the Dukies a 75-67 lead in the waning moments of the game.

Up Next:


Ohio State (5-2) returns to Columbus and will take on the St. Francis Red Flash (2-5) at Noon this Saturday. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. St. Francis is No. 324 in KemPom this season. Last year, they went 9-21 overall and 5-13 in Northeast Conference play.

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LGHL Asks: How are you feeling about Ohio State football following The Game?
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.

A lot has happened over the past week to shake the confidence of Ohio State football fans. So, as Buckeye fans approach a weekend that will undoubtedly be full of emotion, anticipation, and anxiety waiting to see where their favorite team will play its postseason football, we wanted to take the temperature of the fanbase to see how everyone is feeling after a second-straight loss to Michigan.

Question 1: If you could magically change one aspect of OSU’s on-field performance, what would it be?


If we’re being honest, there are undoubtedly more than one thing that most Buckeye fans would like to see improved on this year’s squad, but these four options were the ones that most sprung to mind.

There has been a lot of good that we have seen from this team over the past three months, from improved linebacker play to incredible wide receiver performances; some of the best throws in OSU history to the reemergence of the Buckeye pass rush. However, there were things that left a lot to be desired.

As always, I have my pick, but I will save my thoughts until y’all have a chance to respond.

Question 2: Do you still want Ohio State to make the College Football Playoff?


I am going to write something about this for later in the week, but I have a much different opinion on this topic than I did four years ago. Back then, I didn’t think that the Buckeyes stacked up well against the best teams in the country that year, but now, I think that they probably are the most talented team in college football, and with lessons learned from The Game beatdown, they would have a shot to win a couple games and bring home a title.


However, I do not fault anyone for being hesitant about seeing the Buckeyes facing off against Michigan again, or even Georgia. I think that is totally fair and I try to never tell anyone how to be a fan.

Question 3: How much more or less optimistic about the future of the Ohio State football program are you now than last week?


I mean, I don’t know how you could possibly be more optimistic than you were last week, unless you expected the Buckeyes to lose by 50, so the actual result was better than you had envisioned. However, I am interested in the degree to wich people’s feelings have changed. Was it a small move in the more dour dimension or was it a dramatic turn in your perception?

I personally don’t think it changes my opinion all that much, I still think that there are obvious issues that need addressing, but I didn’t need to see the Buckeyes get beaten that badly to tell me that. However, I do think that a little adjustment in the wrong direction is appropriate given what we saw last Saturday.


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 fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate.

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Since 1899 Podcast: Ohio State guard Adrienne Johnson
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Assistant Athletic Director and coach Adrienne Johnson on the Louisville Cardinals bench (second from the right) | Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

In the first episode of an Ohio State women’s basketball podcast, a WNBA original talks about her journey in the sport.

Since 1899 is an Ohio State Women’s Basketball podcast, covering the team that dates back all the way to the turn of the 19th century. Check back throughout the season for more interviews and coverage of the historic Big Ten women’s basketball program.


The Ohio State women’s basketball program has a storied history and in the first episode of Since 1899, a freshman from the 92/93 NCAA Championship runner-up run joins the show. Adrienne Johnson is a Louisville, Kentucky native who chose Columbus, Ohio as her college pick.

In the episode, Johnson talks about her 17 years with the Louisville Cardinals and returning to the court in as an assistant coach in 2022. She talks about how building trust is key with college players, especially in a world that’s pulling them in all different directions.

Then, coach Johnson discusses how she chose Ohio State, her initial thoughts about the new defunct ABL, and a strategic mindset of choosing which city to try out for the WNBA.

Johnson’s entire story falls back on hard work, but that’s not all a player can do in order to become successful. She shares what that extra piece of the puzzle is for aspiring pro women’s basketball players.

Finally, Johnson discusses how she’s still a Buckeye, even though she’s working for her hometown university. Coach shares her thoughts about Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff, rooting for the Buckeyes unless they’re playing Louisville, and even some thoughts on the Ohio State game against TTUN.

There’s also a companion story about the Adrienne Johnson you can read now, by clicking this link.


Connect with Thomas:

Twitter: @1ThomasCostello

Theme music: HOLY MOLY by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

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Ohio State wrestling heads to the desert in pursuit of a prestigious tournament title
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Ohio State athletics / ohiostatebuckeyes.com

The third-ranked Buckeyes have started out hot, and will be competing in a major tournament this weekend.

The Ohio State wrestling Buckeyes have grappled to a 3-0 start in dual competition(s) to begin their 2022-23 season, and will look to parlay the team’s hot head-to-head start into a solid result at the Cliff Keen Collegiate Wrestling Invitational (Dec. 2-3). With a strong combination of youth and experience, Tom Ryan’s squad is expecting to once again place well – both individually and as a team – in a tournament which has treated them very well over the last decade and change. Since 2009, the Buckeyes have finished first or second in this Las Vegas-hosted tournament eight times, with top-three finishes in nine of the last 10.

In order to understand why OSU is expected to perform so well (again) in Vegas this year, we should probably go back and do a bit of a retroactive season preview/early season recap. I say retroactive, because I am late to the game. I own it.

The wrestling Bucks began their season roughly a month ago, and it falls on me for not publishing a piece sooner. But here’s the deal: I was in a very committed relationship with this unnamed football team, and I expected things to go well for at least a few more weeks. Instead, our entire year together went south in the span of 30 minutes, thanks to some team up north. So now I am drinking orange juice straight from the container like Mikey in Swingers, leaning into my seasonal depression, and it’s just a whole giant thing... I will spare you the details because they are of little significance. Instead, let’s catch up with the team that will bring me out of my winter funk!

Ranked No. 3 in the NCWA Coaches Poll, this Ohio State wrestling program has been a monster for many years. Although they currently sit behind two other Big Ten teams (Penn State and Iowa), the Buckeyes are a perennial national contender. Last season was a down year for the team, as they finished 13th at the year-end NCAA Championships. But prior to that – and a “meh” 2020-21 Covid-impacted campaign – OSU had captured three conference championships and a national championship since 2014-15.

So it was no surprise when Ryan’s staff brought in a top-ranked recruiting class. Nor is it surprising to see this season’s squad back inside the top-5, with a chance to reclaim their status as one of the sport’s elites.

Ohio State currently has seven wrestlers ranked inside the InterMat top-13 at their respective weight classes, led by superstar 149-pounder Sammy Sasso (third). He is joined in the top-13 by holdovers and veterans Malik Heinselman (No. 11 at 125 lb.), Carson Kharchla (No. 6 at 165), Evan Smith (No. 7 at 174), Kaleb Romero (No. 4 at 184), and Tate Orndorff (No. 7 at heavyweight). And joining all of those vets, is true freshman Jesse Mendez (No. 13 at 133). Mendez is one of the top freshman grapplers in the country, but there is plenty of talented youth to be found throughout this roster.

Redshirt freshman Paddy Gallagher is one to keep an eye on at 157 pounds, while Nick Bouzakis (133) and Nick Feldman (HWT) were also members of this year’s historic recruiting class. Jordan Decatur (141) and Gavin Hoffman (197) join the rest of the “front-liners”, with Hoffman looking to build on an impressive 2021-22 postseason.

So yeah, this group is stacked.


As previously mentioned, the Buckeyes have begun their dual season 3-0, with two victories over ACC schools. The first such victory came at home against Virginia Tech, the No. 14-ranked team and a tough opening opponent. In what could have been an ominous development, Sasso dropped the first match of opening night — a sudden victory stunner by the Hokies’ Caleb Hanson. But he (Sasso) has since finished matches with four pins and a tech fall, so all is right in the world. The rest of the OSU squad picked up the slack against VT, notching wins in six of the remaining nine matches, and securing an 18-13 result.

Subsequent victories over Columbia and North Carolina have not been nearly as close, with Ohio State racking up 33 points in each dual. The Tar Heels in particular are no slouch of a team, as they were ranked No. 17 at the time of the match.

Now Ryan’s guys will head to the desert, looking for individual and team accolades in Sin City. In its 40th year, the Cliff Keen Invitational is one of, if not the most, prestigious tournaments in all of college wrestling. And as noted earlier, OSU typically performs very well in said tourney. Sasso and Kharchla are among the favorites to win their respective weight classes this time around, in addition to Romero and Smith — both of whom should also be considered as (very) legitimate title contenders.

A strong finish, or potentially even a win in this one, would give Ohio State great momentum as they prepare for Big Ten competition. Conference duals do not begin until after the first of the year, and as expected, collegiate wrestling will run through the Buckeyes’ geographic back yard. The Big Ten boasts four of the top five ranked teams in D1, leading to a tough road ahead. But Sasso, Kharchla, and Romero headline a loaded contender.

If you are still licking your wounds from an OSU football loss, I suggest you check out the Buckeye wrestlers... Or the men’s and women’s basketball teams, or the hockey teams, or any number of top-notch programs Ohio State athletics has to offer. There are athletes to root for and championships to be had, in what should be an exciting winter season. Find Keen Invitational coverage wherever you can this weekend, and across the board: Go Bucks!

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B1G Thoughts: The Big Ten runs through Ann Arbor
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

After Michigan’s explosive afternoon in Columbus, the crown has been passed to the team up north.

Jim Harbaugh, The King of the North. While Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are fighting for the Iron Throne, the north has bent the knee to Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. House Buckeye is no longer on the throne, as many in Columbus want Ryan Day to be sent to the wall.

Two years removed from almost losing his job and instead accepting a reduced salary with incentives, Harbaugh is 24-2 with back-to-back wins over Ohio State. It is safe to assume that Michigan will win the Big Ten again, with only Purdue standing in their way. Even if they lose — they won’t — they will most likely make the College Football Playoff for the second time in program history.

Coming into the season, there was a lot of speculation on what Michigan was going to be. Not that last year was a fluke, but this team lost Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Dax Hill, among others, plus their offensive and defensive coordinators. Under normal circumstances, it would be hard to bounce back, but add in Jim Harbaugh aggressively pursuing the NFL and a botched quarterback competition, and it was fair to question if Harbaugh could lead Michigan back to the mountaintop, or if the Big Ten would revert to the norm and run through Columbus.

Harbaugh and the Wolverines silenced the doubters emphatically with a 12-0 season and an explosive beat down of Ohio State.

After this year’s version of ‘The Game,’ it is time to give Harbaugh his respect. Not only has he beaten Ohio State two years in a row, but he’s also done it two different ways. Last season was a beatdown where Michigan bullied Ohio State on both lines of scrimmage with a punishing run game and an elite defensive line. This season, Michigan tried to maintain that identity, but with star running back Blake Corum injured, they instead turned into a big-play offense, torching Ohio State for five touchdowns on plays over 40 yards — three of which were 75 yards or longer. Harbaugh showed an ability to adapt and outcoach Ryan Day en route to his second victory over his rival.

It is safe to say that former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had Harbaugh’s number. Meyer was 7-0 against Michigan and 4-0 against Harbaugh. After the past two seasons, Harbaugh is 2-1 against Ryan Day, and I would say that he has Days’ number and is in his head. Ohio State never had questions about their toughness under Meyer, but with Day at the helm they have been bullied by multiple programs, and Harbaugh has built a machine that will out-tough Ohio State since it can’t out-talent them.

I don’t know about you, but I am not confident that Day and the Buckeyes will go into Ann Arbor next season and beat the Wolverines in the Big House. Michigan is officially the class of the Big Ten until proven otherwise. Ryan Day’s saving grace may just be that Harbaugh has been at Michigan for eight seasons — four more than any other stop in his career — and the NFL with undoubtedly come calling. Look no further than the Indianapolis Colts, another team in crisis where hiring a former player to save them may be attractive.

That is all hearsay, so unless Jim Harbaugh hangs up his collegiate whistle and heads to the NFL, the Wolverines own the Big Ten until further notice.

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Column: For once, Ohio State might be relying on the transfer portal
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

New year, new Buckeyes.

The football season is not over yet, but as the regular season has wrapped up (with the exception of an Army vs. Navy game, which is not being played for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy — Go Air Force!), we may as well start thinking broadly about what’s to come for Ohio State come next season.

Some things we know will remain consistent. As Matt Tamanini pointed out earlier this week, Ryan Day is here to stay. And because time heals all wounds, by next September, the bitterness of a rough loss to Michigan will have worn off and we’ll all be delighted to keep the winningest current head coach (in win percentage) in the FBS firmly in Columbus.

Some things we know will change, including players departing for the NFL or running out of eligibility (yes, even the super seniors). Perhaps the biggest reason to hit the panic button heading into the offseason is the quarterback position, because C.J. Stroud, who’s still a Heisman contender even after a two-pick performance against Michigan, is undoubtedly bidding Buckeye Nation farewell after this season.

Ohio State lost one elite quarterback recruit to the transfer portal last season (Quinn Ewers), which really didn’t hurt at the time considering Stroud was just lighting up. The only other quarterback on the roster with any experience is Kyle McCord who, we know, is not at Stroud’s level. Freshman Devin Brown, the No. 6 quarterback in his recruiting class, is the other option.

Which leads us to the transfer portal and why we’re talking about this now.

I’ve previously written about the transfer portal and why Ohio State simply has not needed to leverage it the way other programs have. The Buckeyes have recruited efficiently and grown the players the program needs, well, within the program. When you look at positions like wide receivers, defensive linemen and running backs (Trey Sermon notwithstanding), it’s clear why: Ohio State continues to grow talent and the next man up mentality wins out.

When we look around at the quarterback room now, that confidence begins to wane. But of course, because of the college football universe we live in, not having an experienced quarterback now doesn’t mean your team can’t have one by next season.

As news came this week in the Big Ten of Michigan’s Cade McNamara, Indiana’s Connor Bazelak and Iowa’s Alex Padilla entering the portal, the idea of picking up a veteran to lead Ohio State to a title next season becomes very tempting. It doesn’t hurt that many of the players entering the portal now are grad transfers with a reasonable amount of experience.

Ohio State benefited from a transfer quarterback before the portal was what it is today when Justin Fields came to Ohio State from Georgia in 2019.

Unfortunately, not every quarterback is Justin Fields. Ohio State brought in transfers in cornerback Tanner McCalister, running back Chip Trayanum and kicker Noah Ruggles who all played roles for the Buckeyes this season, but bringing in a quarterback to run the offense is a whole different matter.

It’s worked for some: Caleb Williams moving to USC was a boon for the Trojans (though it’s kind of cheating when he’s following the coach who recruited him). Bo Nix similarly filled a void at Oregon this season.

Bringing in Padilla or McNamara doesn’t have quite the same level of excitement that the Fields transfer did, which makes sense since Day truly loves his star quarterbacks. If someone like North Carolina’s Drake May, the only underclassman in the top-five in the FBS in both passing touchdowns and passing yards this season, were to come available, then the transfer portal all of a sudden gets more exciting. May also happened to get an offer from Ohio State during his recruitment, as did DJ Uiagalelei and Hudson Card, the latter of whom entered the transfer portal Tuesday. These players, who already have a relationship with Day, would probably have Ohio State close to the top of their target lists.

The quarterback position looks to be the biggest void to fill this coming offseason, and Day has proven adept at the offseason adjustment. Last season, after blatant challenges on the offensive line against Michigan (including pass protection and run blocking), Day brought in Justin Frye. The results were clear: The Buckeyes gave up just one sack to Michigan this season compared to four last year. And Ohio State had 143 yards on the ground in 2022 versus 64 last year.

Defensively — something we saw as a problem well before the Michigan game in 2021 — Day brought in Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator, which gave immediate life to the defense. While that defense was disappointing against Michigan, we saw a great improvement over the other 11 games.

And if Day has one area of expertise, it’s quarterbacks. It’s a near certain that if a big name quarterback comes on the market, they’ll be interested in a program that is quarterback centric, where they can fill up the stat sheet and position themselves well for the NFL. That program is Ohio State.

While things are unclear now, that’s an area we can trust will get fixed come September 2023.

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Game Preview: No. 4 Ohio State women’s basketball at No. 18 Louisville Cardinals
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

A matchup against a consistent ACC power is a vast difference from recent opponents for the Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball season has been a roller coaster that started halfway down a big hill. Head coach Kevin McGuff and the Buckeyes welcomed the Tennessee Volunteers to the Schottenstein Center to start the year off against the then No. 5 team in the country.

Since then it’s been five games where the carts almost sat still. Wednesday night, the excitement picks up again as the Buckeyes travel to Louisville, Kentucky to face No. 18 University of Louisville.

Ohio State faces a Louisville Cardinals side that’s not meeting their own expectations to start the season. For the Buckeyes, their success might hinge on the availability of one player. It’s a game full of variables, and here’s what to watch.

Preview


The Louisville Cardinals enter Wednesday in a position they’re not used to. Sitting at No. 18 in the polls, head coach Jeff Walz team sits in their lowest ranking since hitting No. 14 in the 2017 season. Also, they haven’t lost more than five games in five years, but already have two in the early 2022-23 season.

Entering this year, Walz lost five players, including three starters. Of that group was Emily Engstler, who ended last season in third place for ACC Player of the Year and part of the ACC’s First Team All-ACC, and Kianna Smith, who was second on the Cardinals averaging 12 points per game.

The learning curve’s been high for Louisville, and a team who prides itself on long tournament runs enters Wednesday with motivation to try and get back on track. Enter the Ohio State Buckeyes.

For the Scarlet & Gray, things are going good, but not great. The good is that they’re sitting at No. 4 in the AP Polls with all six of their wins with a double-digit margin. Also, beating three teams in a row, averaging 103 points per game. Not a bad start to the year.

What’s tipping it into the “not great” category is the absence of guard Jacy Sheldon. Now, guard Madison Greene is no slouch, and she’s led Ohio State over the past two games from the point guard position, but there’s been a dip with Sheldon’s absence.

Looking at the Buckeyes 29.8 turnovers per game, a logical argument is that the Buckeyes faced four schools outside of the Power Five, so the total is skewed. With Sheldon at the helm, the Buckeyes averaged 34 turnovers per game, due to her energetic movement and ability to disrupt opponents in the press.

Only one game with Sheldon starting did the Buckeyes not force at least 30 turnovers, and that was 29 against Tennessee. With Sheldon gone, Oho State’s averaging a paltry (sarcasm intended) 21 per game.

Against Louisville, Sheldon’s unknown status could mean one weapon’s off the court against a team that, even when struggling, is a force.

The Cardinals are led by guard Hailey Van Lith. A First Team All-ACC last season, Van Lith is picking up where she left off this year, averaging the second most points the ACC with 21.2. Even the gaps created by seniors leaving last year was filled by two talents in former Florida State guard Morgan Jones and former Syracuse Orange Chrislyn Carr.

Walz and the Louisville program employ a defense that will throw all different looks at the Buckeyes. For spells of a game, they’re playing in the half court. Without warning, they move to the full court press. Offensively, they’re a team that isn’t afraid to shoot, and shoot quickly, hitting midrange jumpers and threes with relative ease.

Wednesday is a game that’s looking like a fitting way to end the ACC/B1G Challenge.

Projected Starters

Lineup Notes

• Cotie McMahon’s reached a new career high in single game scoring with 20 points against North Alabama.
• Rebeka Mikulášiková earned her second Big Ten Honor Roll award out of three weeks after last week’s performances of 41 points in 39 minutes.
• Lately, Hevynne Bristow’s brought a pop of rebounding off the bench, with 21 in the three-game home stretch.

Lineup Notes

• Carr played against the Buckeyes last year with Syracuse, where she scored 23 points with four rebounds and two assists in the 97-91 Syracuse victory
• Williams, a 6-foot-5 transfer center from Utah Valley, starts for the Cardinals but only averages 9.6 minutes per game
• Jones joined the Cardinals after three seasons with the Florida State Seminoles

Prediction


Sheldon’s consistent “day-to-day” status from coach McGuff, and after games that didn’t really need the play of the outstanding guard, looks like an effort to allow Sheldon to rest a knock. If Sheldon doesn’t start against Louisville, that status is more than only day-to-day.

Wednesday is a game made for a full, healthy, set of starters. However, if Greene starts, it might mean less turnovers forced but there are still the skills there to take on this current edition of the Cardinals.

It’s going to be a close game, likely even with the Buckeyes down for spells against a team chalk full of winners. Ohio State has the leadership, team chemistry and buy-in to the game plan though to withstand for 40 minutes and find a victory.

If the Scarlet & Gray has a cold night of shooting though, it could be a difficult night if the defense isn’t on their game. Closing down shooters has been an issue lately, but against teams that haven’t exactly motivated the Buckeyes to their best.

The Cardinals will demand the Buckeyes best game. Louisville doesn’t take their time finding a shot, and have confident shooters like Van Lith who can rack up points quickly.

Quieting the home fans, like Ohio State did in the NCAA Tournament against LSU, is also key. The more shots fall, and the quicker they can apply their defensive press, the easier it’ll be for the Buckeyes.

How to Watch


Date: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, Kentucky
Television: ACC Network
Stream: ESPN+ with an ACC Network Subscription

LGHL Prediction: 82-75 Ohio State Buckeyes

McGuff’s Thoughts on ACC/B1G Challenge


During media availability, McGuff was asked about this week being the final edition of the ACC/B1G Challenge, a competition that pits the two Power Five conferences against each other. Specifically, how he felt about it ending.

McGuff isn’t sad to see the annual tournament go, mainly because of scheduling. The challenge takes the power out of the hands of coaches and programs to put their schedule the way they want to.

With the challenge ending, Ohio State can still play ACC teams, but now the Buckeyes have the fluidity to schedule a calendar that works best for them. It also allows Ohio State to not need four smaller non-conference games in a row like the Scarlet & Gray went through in the past two week.

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Ohio State men’s basketball vs Duke: Game preview and prediction
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Can the Buckeyes repeat their Duke magic of last season?

It is officially that time of the year folks. Ohio State against the big bad wolf. The now-ranked No. 25 Ohio State men’s basketball team takes their 5-1 record to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the No. 17 Duke Blue Devils, who enter the contest 6-2.


Duke has been an interesting case this season, as their two losses are both against very solid teams in Purdue and Kansas, but they also do not have a convincing win. They beat Xavier but struggled in that one as well and only wound up beating the Musketeers by seven.

For Ohio State, they are coming off a successful trip to the Maui Invitational. After falling to No. 24 San Diego State to open the tournament, the Buckeyes rattled off two nice victories over Cincinnati and then-No. 23 Texas Tech Red Raiders. This performance allowed the Buckeyes to be ranked for the first time this season, sneaking into the back end of the poll on Monday afternoon.

Last season, Ohio State famously pulled off the upset of the year at the time, knocking off then-No. 1 Duke 71-66 at Value City Arena. Zed Key led the Buckeyes with 20 points and E.J. Liddell added 14 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. Liddell also hit a huge bucket to give the Buckeyes a three-point lead with 16 seconds left. Duke freshman and future No. 1 draft pick Paolo Banchero missed a three-point field goal with five seconds left to end the game.

For Duke, Wendell Moore Jr. finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Paolo Banchero finished with 14 points and five rebounds but was just 4-for-14 from the field.

Here is a great clip on how the Buckeyes and head coach Chris Holtmann pulled off the upset.


Duke has five impactful freshmen in their rotation, as well as two transfers coming off the bench whom Ohio State fans should be very familiar with. Ryan Young previously played at Northwestern, while Jacob Grandison spent three seasons at Illinois prior to his transfer to Duke.

Also, just a fun (kind of) stat, Ohio State is 2-0 against Duke following a Buckeye loss to Michigan in football. Read the article below for more history and information on that funky trend.

Preview

Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

Ohio State is coming into this one with the momentum, as they defeated Texas Tech in their last game 80-73, while Duke was hammered by Purdue in their last game, falling to the Boilermakers 75-56. They had no answers for Purdue’s defense, nor could they do much against big Zach Edey below the basket.

Duke is led by freshman big man Kyle Filipowski, who is averaging 15.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Duke junior guard Jeremy Roach is the only player these Buckeyes are familiar with from last season, and he is averaging 12.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Freshman forward Mark Mitchell is averaging 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while Ryan Young is averaging 7.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively have yet to make much of an impact for the Blue Devils as the top two recruits in the 2022 class, but they have both been dealing with injuries and are not fully healthy yet. They’ve combined to average 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game thus far.

For the Buckeyes, talented freshman Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 15.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while Justice Sueing is averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Sueing is coming off a career game against Texas Tech, recording 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals in 31 minutes.

Zed Key is averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and West Virginia transfer Sean McNeil has been a great spark off the bench for the Buckeyes, averaging nearly ten points per game over 27.5 minutes per contest.

Prediction

Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images

Duke has been a tough case to crack this season thus far. They have the size and the talent on paper, but they are young, and they really struggle to shoot the ball.

It is imperative that Zed Key stays out of foul trouble. We all know how Duke gets officiated at Cameron, and Key will have to be aware of that as well. He had a career game last season against Duke, scoring 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting, but most importantly, he only recorded two fouls in the entirety of the game while dealing with talented Duke big man Mark Williams.

If Key gets into foul trouble, it will come down Felix Okpara down low to help rim protect. Okpara has provided solid minutes this season, but he has only played 14 minutes per game and would be thrust into an extremely difficult situation if Key is in fact stuck on the bench. Key, obviously playing last year, is not in an unfamiliar game.

Bruce Thornton, Justice Sueing, and Isaac Likekele will be key in this one as well. They are three starters that are big-bodied and will need to be able to work against Duke’s size and their ability to crash the glass on defense and offense.

Likekele has struggled offensively this season thus far but has been huge on defense and will have to guard multiple positions in this contest as he has been tasked with doing all season thus far. Two more interesting players are Sensabaugh and Roddy Gayle Jr., who can use their length and athleticism to their advantage by making it difficult for some of Duke’s larger wings to chase them around.

All in all, I think Ohio State wins this one on the defensive end, getting some crucial stops late on the Blue Devils.


ESPN BPI: Duke 58.4%
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

LGHL score prediction: Ohio State 76, Duke 70

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IT’S TIME FOR DUKE TO GET DUMPED

GET DUMPED THEN, DUKE. The Ohio State University men's basketball team plays Duke on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which will unfortunately end this week after a 23-year run, according to Andy Katz.

The No. 25 Buckeyes, who appeared in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time this season after picking up two wins at the Maui Invitational, will battle the No. 17 Blue Devils in what will be one of Ohio State's most challenging regular-season matchups.
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Whenever Duke loses on the hardwood, it is a glorious occasion. I want to make that much very clear. But it was especially glorious when the Buckeyes beat the Blue Devils at the Schott last season.

Ohio State had already two losses to Xavier and Florida before the matchup, so nobody – and I mean nobody – expected the Basketbucks to defeat Coach K and company. However, that's exactly what the Buckeyes did 365 days ago.

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At 7:15 p.m., we will find out if it's Key, Sueing, Sensabaugh or another player who steps up for the Buckeyes as Ohio State attempts to claim its second straight win over Duke and third victory in their last four matchups dating back to 2011.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...-had-no-divisions-the-conference-championship

Ohio State at Duke picks and predictions

The No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) and the No. 16 Duke Blue Devils (6-2) meet Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Ohio State at Duke odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:09 a.m. ET.

• Against the spread (ATS): Ohio State +5.5 (-110) | Duke -5.5 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 137.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Prediction
Duke 69, Ohio State 66

Entire article: https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/2022/11/30/ohio-state-at-duke-odds-picks-and-predictions/

Duke basketball vs. Ohio State: Scouting report, score prediction

Coming off a 75-56 loss to then No. 24 Purdue in the Phil Knight Legacy tournament championship game in Oregon, Duke basketball returns to Cameron Indoor on Wednesday to face another Big Ten opponent.

The No. 17 Blue Devils (6-2) will host No. 25 Ohio State (5-1) in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN.

The non-conference matchup is a rematch from last year when the Buckeyes knocked off No. 1 Duke 71-66 in Columbus. Duke is currently 0-2 against top 25 teams.
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The end of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
On Monday, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced the formation of the ACC/SEC Challenge for men’s and women’s basketball beginning next season.

The creation of this event concludes the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge that began in 1999.

Does that mean we could get a Duke-Kentucky game at Cameron Indoor? Time will tell.

Duke vs. Ohio State score prediction
Duke 68, Ohio State 61: The Blue Devils are 4-0 in Cameron Indoor but will face its toughest home test so far this season against the Buckeyes. Expect Duke to bounce back from a poor shooting performance against Purdue and create enough turnovers to take down Ohio State.

Entire article: https://www.fayobserver.com/story/s...scouting-report-score-prediction/69682253007/

Bucketheads Podcast: The hater’s guide to Duke with Tate Frazier
Connor Lemons via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

We brought on our resident Duke hater to discuss Ohio State’s showdown with the Blue Devils.

‘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


On this week’s episode, Connor and Justin are joined by Fox Sports college basketball personality Tate Frazier to preview the Big Ten-ACC Challenge battle between No. 25 Ohio State and No. 17 Duke. Tate, who co-hosts the Titus and Tate Podcast and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brings a unique perspective to Duke basketball.

Should Tate be hitting the panic button on his North Carolina Tar Heels, or should Duke fans be reaching for that same button? We discussed both with Tate, as well as what Chris Holtmann’s strategy should be walking into Cameron Indoor against the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the country.

Tate also tells everyone his thoughts on Coach K./ Mr. K’s absence from the Duke men’s basketball program, and his decision to keep his sixth-floor office rather than handing it off to the new coach, Jon Scheyer.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @BucketheadsLGHL

Connect with Connor:
Twitter: @lemons_connor

Connect with Justin:
Twitter: @justin_golba

Connect with Tate:
Twitter: @tatefrazier

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Ohio State makes in-home visit to four-star OL pledge
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Like Montgomery | 247Sports

Buckeye coaches Ryan Day and Justin Frye made a stop to check in on a top offensive line pledge on Tuesday.

While the sky had seemingly fallen on Saturday, Ohio State looks as if they are making a big move for a blue-chip edge defender after his weekend visit. Plus, a longtime Buckeye pass catching pledge looks to have reaffirmed his commitment to the program.

Buckeye trending for former LSU pledge


After defensive line coach Larry Johnson spent months on months in pursuit of the big three in Keon Keeley, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Damon Wilson, it seems as if the Buckeyes could be on the verge of adding a different edge defender to join the 2023 recruiting class.

247Sports’ Justin Thind, a Michigan State insider, joined both Bill Kurelic and Steve Wiltfong in forecasting 2023 four-star defensive end Joshua Mickens of Lawrence Central (IN) to land in Columbus with Ohio State.

Mickens, a former LSU pledge, is back on the market after taking his official visit to the Buckeyes campus this weekend. Ohio State had recently ramped up their efforts for Mickens with uncertainty on where things stand with the aforementioned big three.

Despite Mickens not being one of the original three that the Buckeyes locked in on, he is no slouch. The Indianapolis native currently grades in as the No. 1 player from his respective state. Mickens also falls just outside of the Top 100 prospects in the country and is among the dozen top defensive ends overall.

While things definitely look to be trending in favor of Ohio State for the 6-foot-5, 225-pounder, there is no timetable for a decision at this time.

Rogers “locked in” with Ohio State


After committing to the Buckeyes back in June, things have been relatively quiet on the recruiting front for 2023 four-star wide receiver Noah Rogers of Rolesville (NC). The Under Armour All-American pledge originally chose Ohio State over Clemson, Florida State, NC State, and North Carolina.

It’s most notably been the Wolfpack that have remain in constant contact with Rogers and outsiders seemed to be concerned with the idea of Rogers instead staying home for the next level instead of being a Buckeye. However, the Top 50 prospect made a stop in Columbus this weekend and it seems as if any concerns can be put to rest.

According to Bucknuts, Rodgers is “locked in” with Ohio State after the trip to the Buckeyes campus. The update certainly comes as a welcome sight for the fanbase and most notably, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline.

Rogers will join the Buckeyes in the coming months and he will bring an impressive profile with him. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder currently slots in as the 48th best prospect in the class. Rogers also ranks as the seventh highest graded pass catcher in the class and is the second best prospect from North Carolina.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Justin Frye made an in-home visit to 2023 four-star offensive tackle Luke Montgomery of Findlay (OH) on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5, 280-pounder is an early enrollee and will come to Columbus as both a Top 100 prospect nationally and the top player from the state of Ohio.

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Ohio State falls to No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings
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 Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The loss to Michigan has the Buckeyes on the outside looking in, but they could still make the CFP.

Ohio State’s season took a drastic turn for the worse on Saturday, dropping its rivalry game against Michigan for its first loss of the year. The Buckeyes now no longer control their own destiny for the College Football Playoff, as they will need other teams ahead of them to lose in order to make the final field of four. As far as Ryan Day’s team is concerned, with the way they looked this past weekend, they are lucky to even still have a shot at a meaningful postseason run.

As a result, the new top four teams in the country look as follows:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. USC

Ohio State checks in as the No. 5 team in the country, sitting at 11-1 and slotted just ahead of 10-2 Alabama. While the way they lost the game to Michigan was embarrassing, the Buckeyes still have a decent resume, which has kept them in contention. OSU still boasts wins over No. 8 Penn State and No. 21 Notre Dame, with their only loss coming to the now second-ranked Wolverines. Ohio State struggled against some of the better opponents on the schedule this season, but still managed to win all of their games by double-digits, besides of course the crushing loss to Michigan.

In order for the Buckeyes to make the College Football Playoff, they will need either TCU or USC to falter in their respective conference title games. This isn’t exactly a far-fetched scenario, as neither the Horned Frogs (-2.5) or the Trojans (-3) are favored by more than a field goal on Saturday.

TCU is undefeated on the year, and despite some of the criticism they’ve received for playing close games, 12-0 is still 12-0. Max Duggan has put together a terrific year at QB, and Quentin Johnson is one of the best receivers in college football. However, if they were to lose to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game — a team they already beat in the regular season — they would likely lose their CFP spot to Ohio State. Their early-season ranked wins over Oklahoma, Kansas and Oklahoma State (three teams with a combined 17 losses) no longer look as good, which leaves them with 8-4 Texas as one of their best wins. Their other big win is over Kansas State, and if they were to lose to the Wildcats on Saturday, that becomes a moot point.

Ohio State fans should really be rooting for Utah, because while OSU would probably get the nod over TCU with a loss, the Buckeyes would definitely make it with a USC loss. Caleb Williams has been fantastic and is now the Heisman frontrunner, but that Alex Grinch-led defense is dreadful. The Trojans already have a loss on their resume, which came against the very same Utes they will play in the Pac-12 title game. Their only notable wins are over an 8-3 UCLA team that recently lost to Arizona, and a Notre Dame team that Ohio State defeated by the same margin. If Utah upsets USC on Saturday, the Buckeyes are in.

Whether or not Ohio State deserves a chance to compete for a national title this season after their performance in The Game is certainly up for debate, but there remains a clear path for the Buckeyes to get a chance at redemption with some chaos in front of them. Georgia and Michigan have likely done enough to secure a playoff berth whether they win or not, but those other two spots are still up for grabs.

As of Tuesday afternoon, here were the betting odds for the College Football Playoff, courtesy of the DraftKings Sportsbook:

To win the National Title

• Georgia -155
• Michigan +290
• Ohio State +1000
• USC +1200
• TCU +1200

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

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