Ohio State basketball posts worst attendance showing in years as on court product suffers
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Another lackluster season meant Ohio State's home court advantage looked a little weaker.

Ohio State basketball struggled again last season, missing the NCAA Tournament while failing to make much of an impact against the best teams in the Big Ten. Another season with the Buckeyes failing to make national noise has led to some declining fan interest, especially when it comes to attendance.

The NCAA released their official attendance figures from last season, and Ohio State's took a tumble. The Buckeyes averaged 12,283 fans a game, or 257,957 total fans, for the 2015-2016 season. That was good for 28th in the country, and 9th in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes averaged 14,648 fans a game (16th in the country) in 2014-2015, and 16,474 fans a game (8th) in 2013-2014. Typically a regular staple in the top 16 or so nationally, the 28th mark is Ohio State's worst since the 1997-1998 season, when they averaged 9,970 fans a game (39th in the country). The Buckeyes went 8-22 that season.

Last season, programs like Arkansas, BYU, Alabama, Utah, Nebraska and Dayton all averaged more fans per game than Ohio State.

Even in so-so years, Ohio State is likely to be near the top of the national attendance figures, in part because of the massive capacity of Value City Arena, which has a state capacity of 18,809 for men's basketball. But it would appear that three years of diminishing returns on the court, plus lackluster out of conference home schedules, have taken a toll a little bit.

The good news is, Ohio State should be a better basketball team than they were last season, and winning tends to cure a lot of apathy. It's unclear to what extend the schedule will give Ohio State any favors, though. Ohio State will host Connecticut and Providence, but games with Navy, Virginia and UCLA will be held outside of Columbus. The Big Ten schedule has not yet been released.

While it doesn't offer the same home court advantage of say, Assembly Hall, the Schott can be a difficult place to play if it is full and loud. It was clear just from TV broadcasts that it wasn't always so intimidating last season, and now the math proves it. We'll see if there's a turnaround for next year.

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Mailbag: Big Ten East favorite, Michigan pass-catchers & more
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

My Big Ten Mailbag is filling up. So, let’s answer some questions! Who is gonna win the East? Does Michigan have the best fleet of pass catchers in the Big Ten? Are we anointing Jim Harbaugh too quickly? Let’s go!! Who do you think will win the Big Ten East? – Steven Spivey It could be a terrific race, with Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan the favorites. Michigan State is the defending champ, but it has lots of holes to fill—beginning at quarterback. Michigan remains a bit of a work-in-progress, which like MSU needs a new signal-caller. That brings

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Ohio Stadium to sell beer stadium-wide during 2016 Buckeyes season - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio Stadium to sell beer stadium-wide during 2016 Buckeyes season
Dayton Daily News
Bags larger than 5x8x1-inches will no longer be permitted in Ohio Stadium beginning with the Buckeye Country Superfest on June 18-19. The policy also will be in effect for the International Champions Cup soccer game July 27 and the 2016 Ohio State ...
Ohio State to sell beer stadium-wide at Ohio Stadium during 2016 Buckeyes football seasoncleveland.com
Beer sales will be available throughout Ohio Stadium247Sports
Lineman Jacquis Webb transferring from Rutgers to BuffaloNBCSports.com
Campus Sports
all 12 news articles »

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Ohio State announces they'll sell beer at Ohio Stadium, new bag policy
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


After a limited pilot program, OSU is expanding their beer offerings.

The next time you take in an Ohio State football game, you might just have a couple more refreshment options than you had the last time you were there.

After an evidently successful pilot program selling beer on only the suite level of Ohio Stadium, Ohio State stadium operations and athletics announced Wednesday that beer would be available stadium wide at fall football games during the 2016 season. According to the university, the revenue generated by alcohol sales will be used to fund two new full-time positions in the Ohio State Police Department.

Funds from the sales will also go towards research done by the Ohio State University Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery aimed towards enhancing prevention effort.

Of interest to many stadium goers, OSU also announced a new bag policy that'll likely impact you or someone going to a game with you. Here's how it essentially works out:



The bag sizes appear non-traditional, so you may have to expand your arsenal if you're looking to carry a tote to a Buckeye home game.

What do you think about Ohio State expanding their alcohol offerings as well as their new more NFL stadium like bag policy?

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Ohio State Buckeyes Fan Caught Stealing; Forced To Pull Ribs Out Of His Pants (Video) - Total Pro Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes Fan Caught Stealing; Forced To Pull Ribs Out Of His Pants (Video)
Total Pro Sports
Talk about embarrassing. An Ohio State Buskeyes fan was caught on video being confronted by store personnel, not because they liked his jersey, but because his pants seemed a little full. Full of meat that he didn't pay for. Pause. Watch as this man is ...


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Could Big 12 expansion chase the Big Ten off ESPN?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Realignment might just be the force that changes the Big Ten's TV deal.

After the Big Ten meetings a few weeks ago, some administrators began to whisper that maybe, just maybe, ESPN wouldn't be a part of the Big Ten's next TV deal at all. Fox has reportedly purchased half of the Big Ten rights for a cool $500 million dollars, but that still leaves the other half on the board.

Big Ten coaches reportedly still want ESPN to be part of the picture, since that exposure is something recruits care about, but there are a variety of reasons why the two parties may decide to go in different directions. Maybe ESPN, driven to cost-cutting thanks to changing consumer behavior, simply can't afford the Big Ten's asking price. Maybe the Big Ten would like to pioneer new distribution methods, or empower a smaller partner.

But one reporter is suggesting another possible reason for a ESPN/Big Ten breakup, at least for the next TV deal. Big 12 expansion. Here's the crux of the argument, from Dennis Dodd of CBS:


Essentially, if the Big 12 expands, their current TV partners (ESPN and Fox) have to pay new shares for those new programs. So if each Big 12 program is getting $25 million from TV, ESPN and Fox need to also pay $25 million a year for say, BYU, and then another $25 million a year for, say, Cincinnati.

The argument goes, if the Big 12 is able to reach an expansion decision before the Big Ten finalizes their TV deal, they could suck up enough money from ESPN (or Fox) to drive down what the Big Ten could ask for in the second half of their TV negotiating rights. That could either lower the revenue gap between the Big 12 and the Big Ten, or maybe even drive the Big Ten away from ESPN and to say, Turner, or NBC.

The crux of this argument does make some sense. But I personally don't think it's especially likely.

Dodd's eye-popping numbers ($1 billion in new revenue for the Big 12!) seem to be coming from the assumption that the Big 12 expands to 14 teams. Given the pressures to not dilute the on field product, that seems pretty unlikely. There aren't four candidates who are capable of performing at Big 12 average level right now, at least in football. Given how apprehensive Texas reportedly about expanding at all, getting them to accept four new teams feels like like a stretch. Even getting an expansion to 12 could be difficult. A 12 team expansion means we're talking around $500 million. That's a big difference.

There's also the question of timing. Per Dodd's article, the Big Ten is hoping to finalize their TV deals by Big Ten Media Days in late July. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby would like to reach expansion decisions before football season starts, but with three Big 12 schools working with interim presidents, a quick turnaround time may not be possible. Unless the Big 12 can identify and secure expansion targets very quickly (not a safe bet, considering how long this process has taken), they might not have the ability to really use it as leverage against the Big Ten.

There's also the matter of maintaining a positive relationship with those partners. Sure, the Big 12 could probably screw ESPN and Fox a little bit by forcing them to pay hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years to broadcast UCF, Colorado State or Memphis football, properties that wouldn't be worth the money. And yes, doing so could maybe jeopardize their ability to secure more valuable contacts with the Big Ten (or other investments). But do you want that hanging over your head when you go back to negotiate with those same partners for your next TV deal?

Dodd's article says "One Big 12 official gave a 'So what?'" shrug to the prospect of upsetting its rights holders". If that Big 12 official was affiliated with Texas or Oklahoma, that seems believable, but that's harder to imagine for somebody with Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State or West Virginia, all schools who won't have the broadcast options that the heavyweights would. Potentially torpedoing future contracts seems like it should be politically controversial.

ESPN is a massive company. Even with cost-cutting, they can probably afford a deal with the Big Ten, and I personally hope that they do, even if the Big Ten has to take a modest haircut compared to what they might be able to get from other partners. While I don't think it's likely that Big 12 expansion might be the straw the breaks this camel's back, it may be possible.

If the Big 12 somehow comes to a quick resolution on expansion, before the Big Ten's TV deal is announced, these negotiations could get a little more interesting.

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Best of Week 10: Full seven-game slate to open November
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

All 14 Big Ten teams are in action on the first Saturday in November. And, no doubt, a big focus will be on Columbus, Ohio, where Nebraska travels to play Ohio State. This is the month championship teams make a push. Who’s gonna step up? The Cornhuskers haven’t played the Buckeyes since 2012, with OSU taking a 63-38 win in Columbus. NU won the other meeting vs. Ohio State as a Big Ten school, taking a 34-27decision in 2011 in Lincoln. Here is a look at the Best of Week 10. Game of the week: Nebraska at Ohio State. Going

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2017 dual-threat standout QB to visit Ohio State
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


4-star signal caller Tate Martell will visit the Buckeyes. Also, 5-star running back Zamir White sets up visit to Ohio State, too.

With all schools around the country just about wrapping up their school year, it becomes an extremely busy time on the recruiting trail. Camp season is just around the corner and the Ohio State coaching staff will be further looking to add targets to the 2017 class and beyond.

4-star QB will see what Ohio State is all about


Making a confirmation late on Tuesday night, 4-star QB from the 2017 class, Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman) says that he will visit Ohio State this weekend.




This is huge news for Ohio State, as the former Texas A&M commit has dwindled his list of potential schools significantly over the past week. Earlier this week, Land-Grant Holy Land's own Charles Doss talked about who the final five schools were on Martell's list. Additionally, LGHL's Luke Zimmermann wrote about Martell's inclusion as a finalist for Elite 11 – basically, one of the most exclusive camps for QBs in the country.

If all goes well, the Buckeyes addition of Martell would be the cherry on top of a stacked 2017 class. Currently, 247sports has Ohio State ranked No.1 for their 2017 class of recruits.

Let's see what happens this weekend.

2018 top prospect to visit Ohio State


According to reports, five-star running back Zamir White (Laurinburg, N.C. / Scotland County) has set up a visit to Columbus for next week. White, a class of 2018 prospect, holds 24 total offers and is one of the most highly regarded players in his class. At 6'1, 210 pounds, White is a force between the tackles, but also has the ability to take it all the way once he's in space. From North Carolina, the Tar Heels are a factor in this recruitment, but the two favorites are thought to be Georgia and Clemson, according to 247Sports' Crystal Ball prediction.

That could change fast after next week, though. Ohio State will be in a battle all the way to the end if White is to end up being a Buckeye. Still, there's tons of time for this recruitment to unfold and it'll be up to the Ohio State coaching staff to build up their relationships with White when he's on campus in a week.


Born a Buckeye?


Though it's not earth-shattering news, current 2017 Ohio State commit Brendon White (Powell, OH / Olentangy Liberty) is confident that 2018 prospect Jaelen Gill (Westerville, OH / Westerville South) will eventually become a Buckeye. It's long been thought that Gill would eventually don the scarlet and grey when he's finally ready to make a decision. When his senior year rolls around, there's no doubt that Gill will be considered one of the top prospects not only in Ohio, but the entire country. Ohio State has loaded up with offensive playmakers in the last couple of classes and adding Gill to that list is a horrific thought from the standpoint of other Big Ten schools.





QUICK HITS:


- Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is off the charts. The Buckeyes are joined with two other schools for the most commits in the Rivals250.


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Martell Heading Back to Ohio State - Eleven Warriors (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Martell Heading Back to Ohio State
Eleven Warriors (registration)
The country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback, Martell visited Ohio State at the end of March for the first time, taking in the Buckeyes' campus with his father and grandfather. This trip, Martell should have the entire family in tow, underscoring ...


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Four Big Ten teams in ESPN’s Top 25 college football rankings
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

ESPN Senior Writer Mark Schlabach released his college football "Way Too Early Top 25" rankings today.

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I know we have the funny recruiting edits, but I thought it'd be a great idea to create a thread devoted specifically to the Buckeyes and their awesome recruiting edits.

One of my favorites:

Cardale Jones signs 4-year contract with Buffalo Bills
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The former Buckeye gunslinger made it official with the Buffalo Bills, signing his rookie contract.

"I am going in here knowing that that Tyrod [Taylor] is our starter. I am going in here knowing that EJ [Manuel] is our backup. I am going in here learning, working as hard as I can working with Coach [David] Lee in the film room, on and off the field. Whatever happens after that I guess is just a product of great circumstances."

- Cardale Jones via Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com


Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones made his move to the NFL official on Tuesday when the gunslinger signed his rookie contract with the Buffalo Bills. After being drafted in the fourth round, Jones was the last of the Bills' draft picks in the 2016 class to sign with the team, but is now officially a member of the Bills. As a Buckeye in Columbus, Jones amassed an undefeated record as a starter (11-0) and helped guide Ohio State to a national championship in 2014. Following season-ending injuries to both Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, Jones filled in admirably, throwing deep touchdowns seemingly all postseason en route to the championship.

The 2015 season didn't quite go as planned for Jones, after a long offseason battle with Barrett for the starting quarterback job, Jones took the starting spot at first but after the team struggled with him at the helm, Ohio State eventually transitioned back to J.T. Barrett as the starter. Though you could argue it wasn't Jones' fault by any means, it still possibly hurt his draft stock after receiving high praise following the championship season. But now, he'll get a chance as a third-string quarterback to fight for a spot yet again.

"If things follow the team's vision, at some point, whether it's next year or a couple more down the road, the Ohio State product will slide in at free safety be the long-term starter at that position. That's simple to see. New Orleans wouldn't have traded up to select Bell if it didn't believe this was in his future."

- Nick Underhill, The New Orleans Advocate


Another draftee from Ohio State during the NFL draft, safety Vonn Bell, is being looked at in New Orleans as being a long-time fixture at free safety. In fact, because of drafting Bell, the Saints are looking at possibly moving to a three-safety defensive backfield with Bell manning the free safety spot. With two other safeties other than Bell that expect to have a starting role on the defense, it would seem like a smart move for the Saints, especially considering the three-safety look was a popular set from the defenses ran in 2013 in New Orleans.

At the end of the day, Bell's versatility as a safety provides the Saints with an excellent opportunity to mix and match their defensive schemes and looks. Drafting Bell could help shore up a defensive backfield that has struggled mightily for the past couple of seasons.

"It was bad timing because I felt myself coming along and getting better. I was really looking forward to the rest of the season. I was really trying to maximize my talent. It was unfortunate that it happened."

- Devin Smith via Dom Cosentino, NJ.com


Former Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith was just getting where he wanted to be in terms of becoming comfortable with the offense for the New York Jets and his transition to the NFL. Then, late in the season just two weeks after he caught his first touchdown pass, Smith tore his ACL ending his rookie campaign. Now, he's focused on rehabbing his knee and getting back to full speed. Unfortunately, there's currently no timetable for his return, and although he's participated in the team's OTAs, Smith himself has been on the side working with the training staff.

Smith caught just nine passes for 115 yards and one touchdown during the 2015 season and played in 10 games. While it's unclear whether Smith will be ready to go for the start of the season just six months removed from his injury, he's currently doing what he can to get back into game shape and get back on the field as soon as he can while making sure he's able to play healthy.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• Here's why it's time to go back to the moon.
• Fish can actually be trained to recognize your face and even spit on it.
• 85 face discipline over cheating at Ohio State vet school.
• Google made a neat app that turns your photos into GIFs.

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Big Ten recognizes 28 Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

The Big Ten announced on Thursday the 28 honorees named Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2015-16 academic year. These standouts were chosen from a group of more than 350 students honored throughout the academic year who had displayed positive sportsmanship. One member of each varsity sports team on every campus was chosen by his or her institution as a Sportsmanship Award honoree, and two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners were then selected from each institution. All of the Sportsmanship Award winners have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, these honorees must be in good academic standing and

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Best of Week 9: It’s Michigan vs. Michigan State week!
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Welcome to Week 9, which has a couple of hefty matchups with Michigan at Michigan State and Nebraska at Wisconsin. And, Northwestern’s trip to Ohio State could be compelling, too. This could be a season-defining Saturday, which features just five games. Four schools are off: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Rutgers. Here is a look at the Best of Week 9. Game of the week: It doesn’t get much better than Michigan-Michigan State. If the Spartans want to repeat as East champs, they need to dispatch hated rival (and fast-rising) Michigan when the Wolverines visit East Lansing. The Spartans are 7-1

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TTUN Beware: It’s All in the Eyes
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


I have no idea why I even care … or is it more of grinding glass dust into the whiny eyes of the opposition? But, frankly, the opposition is Northwestern, Penn State, Indiana, and Illinois, so on and on. What I speak of here is the enemy – TTUN…the rodents of the road-kill state … the flushes of the cesspool of the world. They are about to swing full-fledge into crazy-ville as the weening period has subsided and their buying into the false prophecy of Jimbo has damned them for an eternity.

The desperateness of TTUN to return to greatness led them to the worshipping of the golden calf. And that golden calf was a return to 1983-86 Ann Arbor with hopes pinned on a quarterback with a knack more geared toward chaos than glory (As his greatest moment would be the 1985 Fiesta Bowl win against Nebraska. He’d score two running TD’s from one and two yards out in a 27-23 victory)…

…That’s right … I speak of Jim Harbaugh.

Now as a College Coach he has amassed a 39-24 record which includes a 10-3 first year with the Wolverines. Prior to his return to Ann Arbor he was “supposedly” the next great thing since Vince Lombardi in San Francisco where the 49ers in four years went 44-19-1. With 2 first place sittings only to lose to the Giants in the NFC Championship game in 2011. In 2012 he lost to his brother and the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. Even so – it seemed as the 49ers couldn’t give him a plane ticket out of town fast enough: The 49ers Jed York stood in a news conference and stated without any suggestions of reservation: “Ultimately we came to the conclusion that it was best for us to go in different directions.”

So the great minds in Ann Arbor opened up the pocketbook and brought Jimbo “home”.

In two years’ time Jimbo has sparked feuds with Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher, Gus Malzahn and even Ezekiel Elliott. Even the tiny tiff with ‘Zeke on twitter is completely meaningless to me – though #15 was right… (Basically saying: Before any smack – gotta win a rivalry game Jimbo!). It is merely all a clear indication of an out-of-control raging lunatic that has found a new source to rant – Twitter (a promise for a not so gentle tumble – just ask a certain Presidential Candidate). It is precisely this type of behavior that TTUN should be concerned with…

…But they won’t be. The worshipping of the golden calf has commenced.

A body language expert and consultant – Dr. G. Jack Brown has recently said – and I shall quote: “It’s no secret that some of Harbaugh’s previous players have complained about his temper – while others have come to his defense. From a strictly nonverbal perspective, Harbaugh displays several warning signals of poor impulse control – one of which is his wide-open eyes. Is “poor impulse control” in the job description of a Division-I college football coach? Right up there with “using emotion in the interest of motivating student athletes to be better human beings” I’m guessing. But what I see is rage and behavioral problems that will destroy and irrevocably ruin the football program he endears.”

Hmmmm!

Undoubtedly he will bring a flash of success to Ann Arbor just as he did to Stanford and the 49ers. But what he will not bring is that success on a long lived scale such as what Bo Schembechler had done for TTUN. When you have a coach that is out on the recruiting road – representing THE SCHOOL – and he dons sweatpants and a tee-shirt, sleeping over at a recruit’s home – while on another occasion climbs a tree to impress yet another recruit – then the obvious need to resurface the “Glory” days may have a “flash” of promise – but the sustainability of disorder will only set in.



Jim Harbaugh has worn out his welcome everywhere he visited. Ask every team where he was employed.

As Dr. Brown finished in his summation of Jimbo: “It could be tomorrow, it may be next month or five years from now, most likely this will occur in preparation for a big game or in the midst of Michigan having a particularly bad losing season. He will go nuclear … and no one will understand … though they should. The signs are there. The eyes tell it all.”

Then I see TTUN no longer playing that silly little complacent card by telling Jimbo as if he is their Dentist: “We are a scholarly bunch here. So when you put your fingers in our mouths, we don’t worry about fingers being in our mouths, instead we think, how can we better help you get more fingers into our mouths? Can we open wider? Swallow our tongue? Help us help you.” Because Jimbo will only shove his entire fist down their throats. It’s what he has done everywhere he has visited. And just like each short stay folks were tired of his act. It was no longer militaristic – somewhat falsely proposing heroism that would grant success. The final result was always ruinous.


…And I promise you – I cannot think of a better place for all of this to transpire than in Ann Arbor.

Listen up you scholarly bunch … It’s all in the eyes. Enjoy Jimbo’s stay!



The post TTUN Beware: It’s All in the Eyes appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Elite 2018 QB sets 2-day visit to Ohio State
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The likely top-rated QB on Ohio State's board for the 2018 class, announces a two day visit to the Ohio State campus.

Emory Jones set to visit Ohio State later this month


The QB position is arguably the most important position in football. Because of this, it is of the highest importance for college coaches to find recruits at the position that show potential and fit within the program. A coach must feel comfortable with his QB leading his team.

Urban Meyer has become one of the top recruiters in the country, and a large part of his success has been finding excellent QB's. Meyer already has one QB commit in the 2017 class, and he seems to be going all in on the No. 1 dual-threat QB in the '17 class in Tate Martell (Las Vegas, NV / Bishop Gorman.)

On top of this, the Buckeyes have already offered three recruits at the position in 2018, and the prospect likely atop of their board announced Monday that he would be taking a two-day visit to Columbus later this moth. Emory Jones (Franklin, GA / Heard County) confirmed with 247Sports that he will be making the trek to Columbus with his mom June 14 and plans on staying the following day.

Already an Ohio State lean, the two day visit will give the Buckeyes' coaching staff the opportunity to show Jones what the program has to offer. It will be Jones' first time on campus and it may be a while before he is able to find time to return. This is likely the reasoning behind the two-day visit.

Jones still has two years of high school before he has to officially announce his decision, so there is plenty of time left. 247Sports currently has him rated as the No. 2 dual-threat QB of his class, behind Notre Dame commit Phil Jurkovec (Gibsonia, PA / Pine-Richland) who visited the Buckeye's campus last month and has been garnering a lot of attention from Meyer and the rest of the coaching staff.

Still, Jones has to be seen as the top target for the Buckeyes as it will be difficult to get Jurkovec to decommit from the Irish.

Tate Martell officially named an Elite 11 finalist


Five-star QB Tate Martell has been the hot topic of Ohio State recruiting for the last few months. Like mentioned above, Martell is the top dual-threat QB of the 2017 class. A one-time Texas A&M recruit, Ohio State has been gaining momentum in the race for his services.

Martell has been impressing at camps this summer. The work and dedication seems to be paying off, as he was named one of 12 QB's with a chance to make Nike's The Opening Elite 11. The Opening Finals 2016 will be held July 8-July 10 in Beaverton, OR.

The Buckeyes are currently seen as the favorites to land Martell, who recently included Ohio State in his list of top five schools.

Two more Ohio State commits enter Rivals Top100


Rivals.com updated their list of top 100 recruits of the 2017 class on Monday. New to the list are Buckeye commits Jake Moretti (Arvada, CO / Pomona) who comes in at No. 76 and Brendon White (Powell, OH / Olentangy Liberty) who Rivals has listed at No. 81.

The two are joined by future Buckeyes Josh Myers (Miamisburg, OH / Miamisburg,) Shaun Wade (Jacksonville, FL / Trinity Christian Academy,) Isaiah Pryor (Bradenton, FL / IMG Academy,) and JK Dobbins (La Grange, TX / La Grange) to make a total of six future Buckeyes on the list.

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100 Teams in 100 Days: The Buckeyes Fall on Hard Times in 1927 as the Wooden Illibuck Debuts - Eleven Warriors (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


100 Teams in 100 Days: The Buckeyes Fall on Hard Times in 1927 as the Wooden Illibuck Debuts
Eleven Warriors (registration)
To put his tenure in perspective, Wilce's teams had played in just over 39 percent of the total football games the Buckeyes had ever been involved in. The school had 11 different head coaches in the program's first 23 years, and Wilce had given Ohio ...

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Ohio State men's basketball | Chris Jent's son walks on with Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State men's basketball | Chris Jent's son walks on with Buckeyes
Columbus Dispatch
Jimmy Jent, the son of Ohio State men's basketball assistant coach Chris Jent, has joined the Buckeyes as a walk-on. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound sophomore guard spent last season as a walk-on at Wofford and was one of 13 players (11 on scholarship) to ...
Ohio State basketball's 2016 recruiting class arrives Monday: Everything to know about the newest Buckeyescleveland.com
Ohio State men's basketball | New team practices together for first timeTimes Reporter

all 3 news articles »

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The Hurry Up: Lindsey's Decision Dates and the Buckeyes, Auburn's Play for Akers May Be Over and More - Eleven Warriors (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


The Hurry Up: Lindsey's Decision Dates and the Buckeyes, Auburn's Play for Akers May Be Over and More
Eleven Warriors (registration)
At this point, most seem to believe it's Ohio State, Nebraska and USC that are the biggest threats to land Lindsey, with the Buckeyes out in front. The country's fifth-ranked wide receiver made his only visit to Columbus in March, and since then the ...

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Depth at wide receiver for Ohio State could turn the tide on offense next season
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With an abundance of talent at the wide receiver position, the Ohio State offense could finally find their missing rhythm next season.

"I think the biggest thing was we created depth at the receiver position. I was really pleased with the way those guys played and got better through the course of the spring. You could wear guys out, the tempo of the offense, throwing the ball and the length of the season anymore if you don’t have any depth. It was a great learning experience for the young players to almost go back to ground zero and start over."

-Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Tim Beck, via Eric Seger, Eleven Warriors


Despite a wealth of talent at the wide receiver position last season, it seemed as though the Ohio State Buckeyes offense in general and wide receivers in particular never gelled. Even with Michael Thomas providing a natural downfield threat, it was not enough, given a series of injuries and position changes that rocked the remainder of the wideouts. Braxton Miller and Jaylon Marshall, both converted quarterbacks, were not true outside receivers last season, having also lined up as slot receivers or even in the backfield. And with injuries to both Noah Brown and Corey Smith, who were projected starters in the spring, there was no one to accompany Thomas as exclusive outside receivers. To make matters worse, there was confusion at the quarterback position, which was only resolved when J.T. Barrett won back the starting job from Cardale Jones. Further, the offense did not seem to sync with the new play calling personnel following the departure of offensive coordinator Tom Herman for Houston. The magic from the 2014 post-season seemed to be lost forever in 2015, when the Buckeyes fell to 100th in passing yards with just 188.8 yards per game.

This season, however, should be a different story. With Brown and Smith returning, and with incoming freshmen Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor ready to compete, the loss of Thomas, Miller and Marshall to the NFL does not sting so much. While there is still a high learning curve for the freshmen especially, the fact that there is finally depth at the true receiver position is going to help the offense find a rhythm. With more options for Barrett to throw to, the receivers are less likely to get worn out over the course of the season, and the benefits are already showing after a strong performance in spring ball.

"Michigan fans are pinning their hopes on Harbaugh lifting their school’s football success. If he can do that, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry could again become a true rivalry."

-Steve Helwagen, 247Sports.com


While the last 15 years have been a period of football riches for the Ohio State Buckeyes, they have been much the opposite for the Michigan Wolverines. Since Jim Tressel took the helm of the football program in 2001, the Buckeyes have won two national titles, eight Big Ten championships (outright and shared) and have gone a whopping 13-2 against rival Michigan. Meanwhile, Michigan has earned zero national championships over that span and earned its last conference title 11 years ago. After the retirement of Lloyd Carr in 2007, Michigan brought on Rich Rodriguez from West Virginia, who went 0-3 against the Buckeyes, and Brady Hoke, whose only win came in his first season when Luke Fickell was interim head coach for Ohio State.

Though Michigan holds the overall edge in the rivalry, leading with a 58-48-6 record over the Buckeyes, the gap is much narrower than it used to be. Prior to Tressel, John Cooper went 2-10-1 against the Wolverines in a period dominated by Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr. Essentially, despite being perhaps the best rivalry in college football, the competition has been dominated by one side or the other for nearly 30 years since Cooper took over at Ohio State. In Ohio State’s most recent run, seven of 13 games were won by a double-digit margin, with the Buckeyes outscoring Michigan a total of 465-315.

Michigan fans hope that Jim Harbaugh, who is entering his second season as the Wolverines’ head coach, will be able to bring balance back to the rivalry, but Buckeye fans hope that Urban Meyer’s perfect record versus Michigan will continue, and will ultimately even the overall score against their biggest rival.

"With this group that we have coming back, we want to get back to that old-school feel and we want to put responsibility on them to come in in June better players and come in in October better players and better people. We understand that there’s a sense of development from the coaching aspect, but guys who want to get better get better."

-Ohio State men’s basketball assistant coach Dave Dickerson, via Adam Jardy, the Columbus Dispatch


Summer may have only just begun, but it is back to work already for the Ohio State men’s basketball team, which had its first practice together with the 2016-17 squad. The tiny group--just 13 players in all--has eight returning players from last season, including forward Jae'Sean Tate who is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum. The injury caused Tate to miss the final seven games of last season, but he is expected to be back to full strength later this summer. Assistant coach Greg Paulus says that Tate’s recovery is "progressing in the fashion we were hoping for."

The Buckeyes have just three incoming freshmen on the roster, including 6-foot-9 center Micah Potter, 6-foot-9 forward Derek Funderburk and 6-foot-six forward Andre Wesson. Sophomore guard C.J. Jackson is also joining the 2016 recruiting class from junior college in Florida. Potter is expected to back up Trevor Thompson at the center spot. Redshirt sophomore David Bell, who is competing with Potter for the spot, recently underwent a hernia repair, and is expected to be back on the court later this summer.

Ohio State also added sophomore Joey Jent, a walk on guard who transferred from Wofford. Joey is the son of Chris Jent, who was brought on in the offseason to replace Jeff Boals following the latter’s departure to Stony Brook. Jent had coached previously with the Buckeyes from 2011-13, and was an assistant in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings among others. Jent also played with at Ohio State from 1988-92 and briefly played in the NBA before starting his coaching career.

"The game at Oklahoma Sept. 19 should be a doozy and one of the best non-con games in the nation. Each school has national title hopes. And each school has a Heisman-contending QB, with J.T. Barrett facing Baker Mayfield."

-Tom Dienhart, BTN.com


With an expanded Big Ten schedule that now features nine conference matchups for the first time since 1984, opportunities for premiere non-conference matchups are dwindling. Still, Ohio State has perhaps the most intriguing out-of-conference schedule, owing to its week three matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman Sept, 17. The Buckeyes face the Bowling Green Falcons and Tulsa Golden Hurricanes in weeks one and two, respectively, and are expected to win handily, giving the revamped squad time to gel before their road test against the Sooners. Ohio State has only faced Oklahoma twice in program history, and holds a 1-1 record against them.

Other marquee out-of-conference matchups in the Big Ten include Penn State’s week two game against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The once-rivals have not faced each other since 2000, though Penn State leads the overall series by a mark of 50-42-4. The Nittany Lions will also once again play Temple--a team that shocked the college football world when it beat Penn State in last season’s opener in Philadelphia. Penn State will face Temple week three this year at home.

Michigan State also boasts an intriguing matchup against its own former rival Notre Dame, who the Spartans have not played since 2013. Notre Dame has won the last three meetings between the two squads, and it does not help that this particular iteration will take place in South Bend. Still, both teams have a lot of rebuilding to do prior to their week two matchup.

STICK TO SPORTS

• We all know Brutus is the best, but Sparty apparently tops the Big Ten
• et ready for cicada season!
• emembering Normandy 72 years later
• Jet packs as the future of transportation? Yes, please!

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Top QB target nails down Ohio State date, says Buckeyes make cut - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Top QB target nails down Ohio State date, says Buckeyes make cut
247Sports
The Buckeyes have offered a scholarship to three 2018 quarterbacks, Emory Jones, Casey Thompson and Artur Sitkowski. The one believed to be at the top of their board will soon be in Columbus. Franklin (Ga.) Heard County head coach Tim Barron recently ...
Ohio State baseball | Buckeyes rally in ninth, win NCAA openerColumbus Dispatch
100 Teams in 100 Days: The 1926 Buckeyes Saw a Cow Win Homecoming Queen While Falling One Point Short of ...Eleven Warriors (registration)
NCAA baseball: Buckeyes rally stuns Wright StateDayton Daily News
Ironton Tribune -Scout -The Courier-Journal
all 84 news articles »

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New Rivals Top 100 Released: How OSU Commits and Targets Ranked!
Jeremiah (SYR) via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

COMMITS

Josh Myers- #14
Shaun Wade- #16
Isaiah Pryor- #73
Jake Moretti- #76
Brendon White- #81
JK Dobbins- #82

TARGETS

Marvin Wilson- #1
Trevon Grimes- #3
Isaiah Wilson- #5
Baron Browning- #6
Jeffrey Okundah- #9
Lamont Wade- #10
Donovan People-Jones- #11
Darnay Holmes- #15
Cam Akers- #27
Tate Martell- #31
Tyjon Lindsey- #33
Robert Hainsey- #64
Chase Young- #92

OTHER B1G COMMITS

Joshua Kaindoh- #7 Maryland
AJ Espensa- #34 Iowa
Dylan McCaffrey- #45 Michigan
Avery Roberts- #77 Nebraska
Tristan Gebbia- #94 Nebraska




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Clothes Call: Ohio State to wear 1916 throwbacks for one game
Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor via Big Ten Network

Confirmed: Ohio State will wear these 1916 throwbacks for one game this fall. https://t.co/W9VaCHhObO pic.twitter.com/2rSFzpNuCn — Eleven Warriors (@11w) June 6, 2016 Do you remember the great Chic Harley? Well, 100 years ago, during the 1916 college football season, Ohio State great Chic Harley earned the first of his three All-America honors as a Buckeye Today, Ohio State announced it will wear an alternate uniform during a game this season in honor of its first three-time All-American, who led the school to its first football conference championship in 1916. Ohio State has not specified which game they will wear the

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Ohio State recruit Tate Martell one of 2016 Elite 11 QBs invited to big time Nike camp
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


A prospective Buckeye's headed to most exclusive quarterback camp on the planet.

Though no current Buckeye quarterback commit was lucky enough to be invited to the Elite 11's finale at The Opening, Nike's, well, elite quarterbacking camp that takes place in the Portland area each July, one prospective Buckeye did make the cut.

Having recently trimmed his finalists to five, Bishop Gorman (NV) quarterback Tate Martell was named one of the final 12 quarterbacks with a shot to make this year's final Elite 11. A five-star signal caller from the Las Vegas area, Ohio State is currently projected as the front runner for Martell's services on the 247Sports Crystal Ball. The Bucks unsurprisingly survived Martell's latest rapid fire round of cuts, first to six schools then as one of five prospective destinations.

The other quarterbacks invited are Chris Robinson (Oklahoma), David Mills (Stanford), Dylan McCaffrey (Michigan), Hunter Johnson (Clemson), Jack Sears (undecided), Jake Fromm (Georgia), Mylse Brennan (LSU), Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Sean Clifford (Penn State), Tommy Devito (Syracuse), and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama).

The Opening Finals 2016 will be held July 8-July 10 in Beaverton, OR.

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