Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Toledo
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Can I really find something to complain about after a 77-21 win? Oh yes.

The Buckeyes hosted the Toledo Rockets in the final non-conference game of the season, looking to finish fine tuning both the offense and defense ahead of next weekend’s matchup against Wisconsin. Things went pretty well overall, with Ohio State cruising to a 77-21 victory. One could be forgiven for not thinking there is anything to complain about in such a comprehensive victory, but… well, that’s kind of my thing. I now present my list of items that vexed me on Saturday night.

Brando Again?


Look, whatever. I’m fine with Tim Brando going away and never calling another game, particularly an Ohio State game. He’s annoying, frequently has bad takes, and is in love with his own voice. He’s also wrong a lot, whether because his vision is fading or for some other reason. Pairing him with the bland Spencer Tillman is a lot like adding 0 + 0. I suppose the bright side is that knowing he’s on the call is a great reason to buy a ticket and go see the Buckeyes in person. That’s true even if you live a 15-hour drive from Columbus like I do.

Come on, Cam!


Cam Brown is a college graduate and he’s a lean, mean 192-pound specimen from St. Louis. However, Brown let Thomas Zsiros, a 210-pound redshirt freshman from Maumee, Ohio, run away from him like he was running in wet cement. Maumee! That’s embarrassing. Not the Maumee, part. I have nothing against Maumee and that is most likely because I’ve never been there. I can find something to dislike about almost anything if you give me enough time. Look, Dane Sanzenbacher was from Maumee, and he was just 180 pounds, but he didn’t run away from people. Sziros looked more like a tight end than a receiver, but he had no trouble burning Brown.

Anyway, that huge play over the top allowed Toledo to tie the game easily on the Rockets’ first drive. The other team isn’t supposed to answer even more easily than Ohio State’s initial, sweat-free march down the field, but it took Toledo only four plays to go 75 yards.

Two Men Enter, One Man Leaves


It was nice to see Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming back on the field, but then TreVeyon Henderson got hurt either while scoring the game’s first touchdown — or on the sideline sometime after scoring — before the second OSU drive. That’s not ideal, nor is it encouraging that he left the game in a walking boot. Hopefully Henderson can bounce back quickly because he’ll be needed.

Actually it wasn’t just Henderson who left, as Brown also had to exit the game as the defensive backfield injuries mount. But, in my defense, I wrote this subhead when Henderson got hurt and I liked it too much to change it.

Hang a Hundred on ‘Em


Look, 77 points is OK, but Ohio State left the job unfinished. You have to show these upstart in-state schools that if they’re going to come to the Horseshoe for their big payday, it’s going to come out of their flesh. How is Ryan Day going to hang a hundred on Michigan if he can’t even do it to the school from noted wannabe-Michigan city Toledo? Let Kyle McCord and Devin Brown cook, for crying out loud!

Around the country, people are going “Oh, OK” when they see the OSU-Toledo score. But triple figures? That stands out. That gets people’s attention. Some of those people are five-star recruits. Where would you rather go? Stupid Alabama, where they only score in the 60s or 70s on weaker opponents, or an Ohio State machine that reaches the century mark? I know where I’d rather go, and I wouldn’t need to grow Bama bangs or buy any houndstooth hats or other clothing items.

And while we’re on the subject of milestones, why not go for a thousand yards in a game? You’re already almost at 800. The hard part is already behind you!

Where’s the Love?


Speaking of hanging a hundred on them, Cade Stover did much of the offense’s heavy lifting early, quickly catching three passes for 83 yards, with most of the damage coming on the first two drives and all of it in the first quarter. And then… nothing (despite an errant pass that prevented him from scoring on the third drive). Look, we all get it. Ohio State is not where tight ends go to catch lots of passes and rack up yardage. This is, apparently, not Iowa, Wisconsin, or any number of other programs. Still, it was a chance to get a tight end to a hundred yards and it would only have required one or two more throws to Stover to do it, and Ryan Day had practically the entire game to make it happen.

I’m not mad about this one, just disappointed.


Those are the things that burned my bacon on Saturday. Hey, I know this week’s column is shorter than usual, but it’s not easy finding things to be mad about when your team wins 77-21. The defense even forced a couple of turnovers for a change and the penalties were minimal. However, I work hard for you, the home reader, so these are my gripes.

What stood out to you? Some B1G grumpiness is coming next week when the Buckeyes host Wisconsin.

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What if Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn played for Ohio State?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dequan Finn was honestly quite impressive against Ohio State, so that got me thinking— what if he had the same weapons that C.J. Stroud has?

Getting beat by 56 points doesn’t leave much room for any positives if you’re a Toledo fan. However, scoring three touchdowns against Ohio State is certainly something to celebrate, especially compared to Note Dame! Quarterback Dequan Finn was responsible for two of those scores and he was very impressive in my eyes. So, as my mind wandered during the fourth quarter — which lasted what seemed like a quarter century — I was wondering, what if he was playing for Ohio State, instead of against them?

Let me make a huge disclaimer right now: OBVIOUSLY, I would rather have C.J. Stroud than Finn. Stroud is the better QB; there is no other player in the country I’d rather have leading the Buckeyes than Stroud. I think he’s going to win the Heisman this year, but I was just curious how much better Finn could be — and how the OSU offense would change — if he was QB1 for Ohio State.

Okay, now that we have that cleared up, let’s get into it. First off, I think that it’s almost impossible for a QB not to improve after upgrading to Ohio State’s offense. I’m pretty sure Joe Schmo could find a little bit of success if he had the weapons that the Buckeye quarterbacks have to work with. However, Finn is no Joe Schmo, as he is actually quite a talented QB.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award for college football’s player of the year. He passed for over 2,000 yards last season and has only thrown two picks in his collegiate career. Finn is a dual-threat quarterback, and he definitely showed off his mobility on Saturday.

This play in particular is a great example of Finn’s quickness and ability to scramble while maintaining his ability to make a play. Although Stroud has certainly improved in this area, having a quarterback who can move like this would be just another great addition to an already unreal offense.


Here is an example of Finn being able to scamper 23 yards to the end zone for a TD. His legs are certainly a huge part of his game, and really the only element of the Rockets’ offense that was even semi-successful on Saturday. But, if he Finn had the ability to throw to Ohio State’s receivers, I wouldn’t be surprised if that part of his game drastically improved.


However, I’m not sure if Ohio State would exactly be a good fit for Finn. The running back room is one of the best, if not the best, in the nation, so there is certainly no need to rely on a mobile QB to pick up yards on the ground. During the Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer eras, Ohio State certainly had mobile quarterbacks, but their wheels were most often used as last resort options, with a few notable exceptions aside.

Additionally, it would honestly be sad to not use JSN, Marv, Egbuka, Fleming, etc. to their fullest potential if the Bucks had a quarterback who was a better runner at the expense of arm talent; that’s why Stroud is the perfect fit.

Playing devil’s advocate, however, maybe Finn could take Ohio State’s offense to the next level. It’s always nice to have another weapon up your sleeve with a quarterback who can move well. Stroud has proven how critical it is to have a QB who scrambles well. There have already been double-digit plays this season of Stroud keeping plays alive, then making a great pass right before getting hit. However, as evidenced on Saturday night, Stroud is not exactly the smoothest or most willing runner.

Finn showcased that he does this on a regular basis, and does it well. That could be a big plus on offense, knowing that a sack won’t always be taken, or the ball won’t always be thrown away once the pocket collapses.

Additionally, if Finn was the Buckeyes’ quarterback, that would be just another obstacle that opposing defenses would have to try to deal with. They already have to figure out how to stop multiple great receivers and two (maybe three now?) great running backs. If they had to come up with a plan to stop a dual-threat quarterback too, they might just have to throw in the towel.

All in all, Stroud and Finn are both very talented quarterbacks. Finn is certainly a huge bright spot on this Toledo team, and after his performance on the national stage against Ohio State, there might be some Power 5 teams who try to get him for next season — maybe the Buckeyes will face him in a Big Ten matchup next season.

However, as exciting as it is to think about how fun and exciting it would be to have a legit, dynamic, willing runner at quarterback, you know what else is even more fun and exciting? Having a Heisman front-running quarterback who can make all of the throws and has the potential to go down as one of the best passers in program history.

So, while there’s no harm in going through the Dequan Finn thought experiment, I am more than content with C.J. Stroud as the Scarlet and Gray’s quarterback!

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Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 19, 2022
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.

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

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

You’re welcome!

For your Earholes...


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

Ask LGHL


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

On the Gridiron


Injured Buckeyes RB Henderson says he’ll be back ‘soon’
Ashley Beach, The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State had several injury concerns vs. Toledo but nothing ‘long-term’
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State Took Precautions with Several Banged-Up Buckeyes Against Toledo, but Injuries Concerning Nonetheless Before Big Ten Opener
Griffin Strom, Eleven Warriors

First Look: Buckeyes to step up in class with Big Ten opener vs. Wisconsin
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Ohio State opens as 17.5-point favorites over Wisconsin
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land


TreVeyon Henderson injury update: Ohio State star RB wears walking boot after Toledo game, Buckeyes’ 77-21 win
Brad Crawford, 247Sports

Buckeyes hold steady in latest polls after blowout win over Toledo
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Buckeye Stock Market Report: Buckeyes’ offensive machine crushes Toledo Rockets
David M. Wheeler, Land-Grant Holy Land

Key Takeaways as Buckeyes polish off nonconference slate
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes


Ohio State goes old school in quest to be a more ‘complete’ offense (paywall)
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes

Scientifically ranking all 11 of Ohio State’s touchdowns against Toledo
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Five Things: Ohio State Obliterates Toledo in Final Tuneup Before Big Ten Play
Chris Lauderback, Eleven Warriors

Column: Go ahead and start engraving C.J. Stroud’s Heisman Trophy
Jami Jurich, Land-Grant Holy Land


Three Questions Answered: Toledo
Jack Emerson, Buckeye Sports Bulletin

Buckeye Leafs: Confident C.J. Stroud decimates Toledo defense with incredible performance
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Ohio’s State: Breaking down Ohio State’s win over Toledo using in-state landmarks
Brett Ludwiczak, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the Hardwood


Basketball brings Aaron Craft, incarcerated together for hope
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Outside the Shoe and Schott


Men’s Soccer: No. 22 Ohio State Earns 2-1 Win vs. No. 15 Indiana
Ohio State Buckeyes

Kyle Snyder Wins Gold Medal at World Wrestling Championships
Chase Brown, Eleven Warriors

And now for something completely different...


Love the shade...


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I-70 Football Podcast: What in the world is wrong with the B1G West?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

After another dominant showing by the Big Ten East, it is time to ask serious questions about the West.

Welcome to a new episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s I-70 podcast. On this show, we talk all things Big Ten football and basketball. After every week of action, we will get you caught up on all the conference’s games and look ahead at the matchups, storylines, and players that you should be paying attention to in the next week. My name is Jordan Williams, and I am joined by my co-host Dante Morgan.

Listen to the episode and subscribe:


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Three weeks into the season and the Big Ten East has been dominant. With a combined record of 20-1, the East has avoided the upset bug that has plagued college football so far. The same cannot be said for the West, which is a combined 12-10 and suffers an upset weekly, with Northwestern being upset by Southern Illinois in Week 3. In this episode of the I-70 Football Show, the guys get into what is going on with the West. Surprise, surprise from a league filled with bad coaches.

In their Week 3 recap, the guys discuss Ohio State’s dismantling of Toledo to the tune of 11 touchdowns in 13 total possessions. As we often discuss, the Big Ten West is full of bad coaches or coaches making bad decisions, and that was the case in Purdue’s loss to Syracuse — a game they should have won if not for a foolish decision to run cover zero up four with 12 seconds left. Indiana, as every Big Ten program should, found a way to win against an inferior opponent in a thrilling overtime win over Western Kentucky. Lastly, the guys recap Penn State’s blowout of Auburn. It is time to put to rest the discussion that the dregs of the SEC are better than teams in every other conference.

We’re officially a quarter of the way through the season, which means we are starting to understand who teams are and what their ceiling is. One team we have not figured out is Michigan, but that should change after a game against Maryland. Maryland arguably has the second-best quarterback and wide receiver corp in the Big Ten, and will challenge Michigan’s starless defense. Ohio State plays Wisconsin in a game that isn’t expected to be close after Wisconsin’s loss to Washington State. Minnesota looks to assert its dominance and gain respect with a win over Michigan State. It is a shame that they are still not ranked.

In their weekly pit stops, Jordan questions the concept that is college kickers. At this point why do they exist, and why are they so bad at their jobs? Dante, despite saying he wouldn’t multiple times, bought 2K and is enjoying it.


Connect with us on Twitter:

Jordan: @JordanW330

Dante: @DanteM10216

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Five-star DL from Florida sets Ohio State visit
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Keon Keeley | 247Sports

The Buckeyes will get yet another visit from one of their top defensive targets in 2023.

The Buckeyes had an offensive explosion on Saturday, dropping 77 points against Toledo. Now, Ohio State will now shift their focus to an in-conference foe in Wisconsin, and on Sunday they learned that a top defensive target will be on campus to take in the action. Plus, another blue-chip wide receiver has the Buckeyes as one of his top schools, unsurprisingly.

Keeley sets Ohio State visit


The biggest news of the weekend was undoubtedly the update that came about late last night.

According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, Ohio State will be getting yet another visit from 2023 five-star defensive end Keon Keeley of Berkeley Prep (FL) this weekend when the Buckeyes scrap with the Badgers.


For Keeley, it will be his second visit to Columbus this month, as the Tampa native was also on campus for Ohio State’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame — the program he was formerly committed to.

The trip for Keeley is a big opportunity for defensive line coach Larry Johnson and the Buckeyes to impress perhaps their top defensive target on the board. Keeley has been a longtime target for Ohio State dating back to when they offered him in December of last year.

Another notable detail about the upcoming trip for Keeley is that his previous visit was an official visit. That means this weekend, everything will be own the Keeley family’s own dime which likely shows the interest that he has in the Buckeyes. Of course this is news that Ohio State is more than happy with, as they are in high pursuit with defensive line holes in the class that need to be filled.

Keeley is currently pegged as the No. 7 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class and would be the highest rated pledge in the Buckeyes’ class, if they can pull this one out. It won’t be easy, as programs like Alabama and Florida are also well-positioned.

Buckeyes a “top school” for Smith


It seems that year after year, the one constant is that Ohio State wide receiver coach Brian Hartline is able to reel in a few big fish at the pass-catching position. For next years cycle, Perhaps the biggest fish that the Buckeyes are tracking is 2024 four-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith of Chaminade-Madonna Prep (FL).

While it seemed as if Ohio State was in great position for the Opa Locka standout, Smith confirmed as much this weekend, according to a tweet from Buckeye Huddle.


The Buckeyes were already seemingly a leader in the recruitment of Smith, as evidenced by being the Crystal Ball favorite on 247Sports, but hearing as much straight from the source should be comforting for the Ohio State fanbase.

If Hartline can work his magic yet again, it would come as no surprise for the Buckeyes. It would also give the receiver room yet another elite prospect to develop in Columbus as Smith currently ranks as the No. 7 player in his class and is the top pass-catching prospect in the country.

Quick Hits

• Ohio State welcomed 2024 four-star athlete Garrett Stover of Big Walnut (OH) to campus this weekend for the contest against Toledo. Stover, who also visited for the week one contest against Notre Dame, is expected to be on campus for this weekends battle against Wisconsin.
• Much like Stover, the Buckeyes also played host to 2025 offensive tackle Carter Lowe of Whitmer (OH). The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder, who currently holds offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Miami (OH), and Toledo, described the visit on Saturday as a “great time” Sunday on Twitter.

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Column: Go ahead and start engraving C.J. Stroud’s Heisman Trophy
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images

<knock on wood> Stroud made a strong case for why he’s the best player in college football.

It’s no secret that C.J. Stroud is a key player in the Heisman Trophy conversation this year, if not the all-around favorite. The 2021 Heisman finalist was near-perfect in Saturday’s game against Toledo, and though it’s a little early to be firming up predictions in a sport where anything can happen, he’s done a lot to cement himself as a frontrunner.

Still, I have had conversations with multiple friends, family members, fellow Buckeyes, and college football fans that wrote off Stroud’s Heisman hopes for this year, instead once again favoring Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (last year’s winner).

Young is a more robust player, they say. He has a more complete game, they think.

I love to take a hard stance early so I can say “I told you so” later (I made a bet in 2014 that the Cubs would win the World Series in 2016 and famously considered a career shift to fortune-telling). So after Week 3 of the college football season, I’m ready to get on board the “The Heisman is Stroud’s” express.

Stroud has put up unreal numbers in the first three games of the season, which weren’t all throw-away games as they have been in past years. The season-opening win against Notre Dame did a lot to put Stroud on the board, but it was really his stellar performances against Arkansas State and ultimately, yesterday’s “Show No Mercy” game against Toledo that are keeping him at the top of the convo.

Certainly, it didn’t hurt that Stroud had Jaxon Smith-Ngijba and Julian Fleming back on the field this week. With their help, he had a star turn of a night. Stroud didn’t play the full game, as is standard when the margin of victory is that large, but his first-half statistics alone would have been a stellar full game for any player. In just the first half, he went 18-for-20, throwing for 297 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. In the second half, he … just kept going. 22-for-27, 367 yards, five more touchdowns. Still no interceptions.

By the time he left the game to rest, he had thrown for 664 yards and nine touchdowns.

Sure, his critics will say Toledo isn’t exactly a worthy opponent. But Notre Dame was, and even though Stroud looked a little rusty to open the season, he quickly found his stride and has gotten better and better each week.

It’s certainly too early to completely write off Young, USC’s Caleb Williams, or Georgia’s Stetson Bennett. All are incredible athletes, Georgia looks to be formidable this year, and there is a lot of season left to play. But the committee hesitates to give the award to the same guy twice, so unless Bama is unquestionably dominant (and they’ve already shown signs of weakness), we can probably count him out. Plus, if the Buckeyes continue to field the version of Stroud we saw yesterday, that’s a man who is giving a performance for the ages and in return, he should lock in that trophy.

He wasn’t perfect against Notre Dame, but he also gets a little bit of slack because there are season-opening jitters, he lost one of his best receivers in Smith-Ngijba to an injury during the game, and he still got the job done. And since then, he continues to get better and better.

I sincerely look forward to Stroud riding the momentum from these first three games. If the Buckeyes dominate Wisconsin the way they probably should, Stroud has a great shot at silencing his critics as OSU dives into their more challenging Big Ten schedule.

Big victories against worthy opponents, a potential playoff berth, and other factors could help him continue to climb the ladder. But if he performs the way he did yesterday, he’s already several rungs ahead of his peers.

So I look forward to hearing his name called and saying, “I told you so” to anyone who didn’t believe in him after yesterday’s game, because this guy is the real deal, and mark my words, that trophy is his.

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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State drops 77 points on Toledo
Gene Ross 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

The Buckeye offense was firing on all cylinders on Saturday.

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

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On this episode, Gene and Josh recap Ohio State’s Week 3 win over Toledo. The Buckeyes emerged with a 77-21 victory as C.J. Stroud and his treasure trove of wide receivers carved up the Rockets’ secondary. Jim Knowles’ defense sprung a few leaks, and the cornerback position is one of concern, but overall the Silver Bullets continued to look strong as they came away with their first two takeaways of the year. We also got to see more of some of Ohio State’s young guys in the blowout, with a handful of standout performances among them in limited action.

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

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

As always, Go Bucks.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23

Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

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Scientifically ranking all 11 of Ohio State’s touchdowns against Toledo
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

I am old enough to remember the John Cooper days when putting up 70 points was a semi-regular occurrence for the Ohio State offense, but I don’t believe that, in all of my decades as a Buckeye fan, I can remember ever witnessing an offense work that close to flawlessly for an entire game.

Heck, the biggest “mistake” of the game might have been TC Caffey’s touchdown when head coach Ryan Day was clearly just trying to run the ball up the middle, run the clock, and not rub it in too much against the Rockets.

C.J. Stroud is every bit the quarterback that we thought he was at the beginning of the season, and my god, that collection of wide receivers has historically been illegal in most parts of Big Ten country. But also, with TreVeyon Henderson apparently suffering an injury following his touchdown run in the first half, we got to see a lot from Miyan Williams (who we already knew was great), Dallan Hadden, and even Caffey.

I realize that they were playing Toledo, but the Buckeye offense was practically perfect in every way, and they put up some pretty impressive numbers on the night.


So, to celebrate, I am going to rank all 11 — yes, 11 — of OSU’s touchdowns from Saturday night. And since this is my column, I reserve the right to change my judging criteria week to week, heck, even touchdown to touchdown. In some cases, I will judge a play by its importance in the grand scheme of the game, others will be by the degree of difficulty, backstory, and sheer entertainment value.

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

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

11th Place: Touchdown No. 9
Dallan Hayden 1-Yard Run


True freshman Dallan Hayden was slated to be the fourth-string running back this season, but thanks to a fall camp injury to Evan Pryor and a first-half injury to TreVeyon Henderson, he saw his first extended collegiate action against Toledo.

While Miyan Williams picked up the immediate slack in Henderson’s stead, with the Big Ten season starting next weekend, it was probably better to get Chop out of the game before he suffered an injury as well. Enter Hayden who not only collected his first college touchdown, but also the first 100-yard game of his collegiate career.

There’s not a whole lot to get excited about from the touchdown run itself, but the story and his performance throughout the game certainly warrant celebration.

Score: 6.5
High Marks: Dallan Hayden deserved his first TD after being the workhorse most of the game
Deductions: Short run, little resistance

10th Place: Touchdown No. 6
C.J. Stroud 11-Yard Pass to Julian Fleming


Man, did it do my heart good to see Julian Fleming back on the field, and even more to see him catch two touchdowns. He has had such a tough time with injuries during his career in Columbus and to have such a great reintroduction to the lineup is great for him, but also a big addition to the wide receiver room moving forward.

This score was not as impressive as his other TD, but Fleming did show good instincts to sit down in a hole in the middle of the zone defense and then work his way into the end zone.

Score: 6.65
High Marks: Sat down in a hole in the zone
Deductions: Just too easy

Ninth Place: Touchdown No. 7
Mitch Rossi 1-Yard Run


During his postgame press conference, Day said that since it was the 100th anniversary of Ohio Stadium, they wanted to line up in I-formation and get a fullback touchdown. While it seemed like he was joking, clearly, they had the play in the cards, and seeing a go like Mitch Rossi get into the end zone is always cool, but it’s a one-yard dive for the fullback, that coolness can only carry the play so far.

Score: 6.79
High Marks: Fullback touchdown, Ryan Day’s postgame comment
Deductions: It’s a one-yard fullback touchdown

Eighth Place: Touchdown No. 8
C.J. Stroud 7-Yard Pass to Emeka Egbuka


Look, we know that the Ohio State receiver room is a cornucopia of talent, but it really is a bit ridiculous to see so many talented guys making plays. Like Fleming, Emeka Egbuka had a pair of TD grabs on Saturday. This one is the less impressive of the two.

However, the two strongest elements of this play are the design and Egbuka’s toughness. Because OSU tight end Cade Stover has proven that he is a threat in the passing game — especially in the compacted red zone. So, when Stover and Egbuka cross paths in their respective routes, it forces the Toldeo linebacker Dyontae Johnson to pick one to cover. Likely assuming that he had help from the secondary, he picked Stover, giving Egbuka a free release into the end zone; well-designed and executed pay.

Then, once he hauls in the ball, Egbuka is popped by the safety but holds on for the score.

Score: 7.42
High Marks: Play design confused secondary, held on after hit
Deductions: Basic pitch-and-catch, no coverage

Seventh Place: Touchdown No. 3
Emeka Egbuka 3-Yard Run


In the back-to-back Egbuka portion of today’s column, we get to what I think is the more impressive score for the wide receiver on the day, and — perhaps surprisingly — it is not a reception. Instead, No. 2 gets the rushing touchdown on a jet sweep.

It was not exceptionally well-blocked, so Emeka had to break multiple tackles on the short run before finishing it off by intelligently diving for the pilon, knowing that all he needed to do was get the ball to contact the orange, foam marker.

Score: 7.7
High Marks: Broke multiple tackles, dove for pilon
Deductions: Short-yardage, no flair

Sixth Place: Touchdown No. 5
C.J. Stroud 7-Yard Pass to Marvin Harrison Jr.


The third and final receiver with two TDs is Marvin Harrison Jr. This is a really nice route and Marv proves his NFL pedigree by getting both feet down, but otherwise, this looked like he and Stroud were playing against air.

Harrison could end up being the best wide receiver of Hartline’s recent, historic recruiting haul. His next catch is better, but this one is still pretty strong.

Score: 8.12
High Marks: Got both feet down
Deductions: Not much coverage to speak of

Fifth Place: Touchdown No. 1
TreVeyon Henderson 7-yard run


This is a really impressive run, or at least as impressive as a mostly north-and-south seven-yard un can be. Henderson takes his time and follows his blocks, runs through a few arm tackles and gets into the end zone.

However, this was the last play that we saw from Henderson on the night. The broadcast showed him heading back to the locker room presumably injured. Now, because the Buckeyes under Day share next to nothing in terms of injury updates, we don’t really know what happened or how severe his injury might be.

Of course against Toledo, his absence didn’t really matter, but if this proves to be a long-term issue, that could be a problem. That being said, Henderson looks good on the run and even does a little bit of celebrating after the score.

Did he hurt himself after the play was over? Not exactly a Ted Ginn Jr. BCS National Championship game situation, but certainly having some uncomfortable flashbacks.

Score: 8.43
High Marks: Toughness, patience, vision
Deductions: Did he get injured on the celebration? If so, I might retroactively move it way down the list.

Fourth Place: Touchdown No. 10
Kyle McCord 72-Yard Pass to Jayden Ballard


Jayden Ballard was a top-100 recruit coming out of high school, but has been overlooked in his two years in Columbus because of the higher-ranked guys in the WR room. But this guy is super fast.

He had to wait for the ball to get to him on the bootleg, and there’s really no reason that he shouldn’t have been taken down right after catching the pass. But, thanks to his blazing speed, a semi-stiff arm, and a pretty weak effort from the Toledo defender, he was off the the races for his first career touchdown and first career 100-yard game.

Score: 9.05
High Marks: Jayden can fly, first career touchdown
Deductions: Garbage time, lackadaisical effort from defender

Third Place: Touchdown No. 2
C.J. Stroud 7-Yard Pass to Marvin Harrison Jr.


Is there a point that when you are watching an epically talented player, they make it look so easy that you stop appreciating how insane their physical achievements are? I might be getting there with Marvin Harrison Jr. Dude is so big and so talented, and he runs routes so well, that when he makes an insane catch like this one, it’s almost a ho-hum occurrence, because of course he was able to make that catch.

Obviously catching passes is in his DNA and he’s been trained by an all-time great since the moment he could walk, but on this catch, he fully extends his body, uses his hand-strength to make the catch, and then get two feet down, proving that he will be ready for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Score: 9.51
High Marks: Body control, both feet in
Deductions: Does he make this look too easy?

Second Place: Touchdown No. 4
C.J. Stroud 5-Yard Pass to Julian Fleming


In most weeks, this would be a hands-down top touchdown of the game, but this week’s No. 1 is special. However, Julian getting back on the field and having such a big impact on the game — even in a blowout against a MAC team — is really inspiring to see.

But this play is incredible; Stroud is on the run buying himself time and Fleming rolls with him and Stroud delivers an absolutely perfect throw where only his receiver can catch it, and does he ever.

Fleming hauls the ball in with a defender draped all over him and is still able to get a foot down. And keep in mind, at this point in the game, it was still relatively competitive. The only downside on this one was having to listen to the most clueless announcer in sports media, Tim Brando, be wrong for the eleventieth billion time in the game.

Score: 9.69
High Marks: Incredible hands and toe-tap, so good to see Julian making plays
Deductions: Having to listen to Tim Brando be wrong AGAIN!

First Place: Touchdown No. 11
TC Caffey 49-Yard Run


This is the type of play that they make movies about. Granted, in the movie, it would be a game-winner in a rivalry or championship game, but the IRL version is still pretty incredible. TC Caffey’s run is also a beautiful metaphor for the journey of a true-freshman walk-on at a blue-blood power like Ohio State.

It starts with very few people paying attention, even the announcers are discussing things other than the play — much like recruiting analysts didn’t discuss him coming out of high school. Most onlookers assumed his career/run was over when it hit some initial resistance, but Caffey didn’t give up and kept working.

That doesn’t mean that it was smooth sailing from there on out; Caffey had to keep fighting and grinding and out-working his competition but in the end, he was able to reap the rewards.

Score: 9.75
High Marks: Sentimentality, effort, toughness, surprise
Deductions: Game situation

Continue reading...

• HEIGHT 6-4
  
• WEIGHT 235
  
• HOMETOWN CINCINNATI
  
• LAST SCHOOL LAKOTA WEST
  
• YEAR 2ND YEAR

Ohio State Overview
• Jackson is in his second season with the program
• He was an invited walk-on to the program and joined the team in June of 2021

More on Jackson
• Jackson was named first-team All-Ohio after recording 53 tackles and two sacks for head coach Tom Bolden at Lakota West High School
• First-Team All-GMC and the Southwest Ohio Defensive Player of the Year
• Led the Firebirds to the Division I regional finals as a senior in 2020

• HEIGHT 5-9
  
• WEIGHT 190
  
• HOMETOWN NORTHVILLE, MICH.
  
• LAST SCHOOL NORTHVILLE
  
• YEAR 2ND YEAR

Ohio State Overview
• Cayden is in his second season with the program
• He was an invited walk-on and joined the football program in June of 2021
• He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete majoring in mechanical engineering

Honors & Awards
2021: OSU Scholar-Athlete

More on Cayden
• Named a second-team all-district defensive back by the Detroit Free Press in 2020
• Played running back, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback throughout his high school career
• First team All-KLAA selection as a senior
• Father, Cedric, was a tight end for the Buckeyes from 1990-93

Enjoy

Here are the matchups for Week 4.

Thursday, Sept. 22

West Virginia at Virginia Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Coastal Carolina at Georgia State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU
Chattanooga at Illinois | 8:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Friday, Sept. 23

Virginia at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Nevada at Air Force | 8 p.m. | FS1
Boise State at UTEP | 9 p.m. | CBSSN

Saturday, Sept. 24

Arizona at California | TBD
UCLA at Colorado | TBD
Indiana at Cincinatti | TBD | ESPN2
Miami (OH) at Northwestern | TBD | Big Ten Network
Kent State at Georgia | 12 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Maryland at Michigan | 12 p.m. | FOX
Clemson at Wake Forest | 12 p.m. | ABC
Baylor at Iowa St. | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
TCU AT SMU | 12 p.m.| ESPNU
Central Michigan at Penn State | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Rhode Island at Pitt | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
Missouri at Auburn | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Bowling Green at Mississippi State | 12 p.m. | SEC Network
Duke at Kansas | 12 p.m. | FS1
South Florida at Louisville | 12 p.m. | ESPN3
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan | 12 p.m. | CBSSN
UMass at Temple | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Fordham at Ohio | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Minnesota at Michigan State | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Middle Tennessee at Miami (Fla.) | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Texas at Texas Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Florida at Tennessee | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
James Madison at Appalachian State | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Toledo at San Diego State | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
FIU at Western Kentucky | 3:30 p.m. | CBSSN
North Texas at Memphis | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Texas Southern at UTSA | 3:30 p.m. | TBD
Notre Dame at North Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
Tulsa at Ole Miss | 4 p.m. | SEC Network
Oregon at Washington State | 4 p.m. | FOX
Georgia Tech at UCF | 4 p.m. | ESPNU
Sacremento St. at Colorado St. | 4 p.m. | TBD
Akron at Liberty | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Navy at East Carolina | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Ball State at Georgia Southern | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Arkansas State at Old Dominion | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Rice at Houston | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Kentucky | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas) | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Iowa at Rutgers | 7 p.m. | FS1
Southern Miss at Tulane | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UNLV at Utah State | 7 p.m. | CBSSN
Houston Baptist at Texas State | 7 p.m. | ESPN3
Marshall at Troy | 7 p.m. | NFL Network
Louisiana Tech at South Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Vanderbilt at Alabama | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network
Wisconsin at Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
UConn at NC State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN3
New Mexico at LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
Charlotte at South Carolina | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU
Florida Atlantic at Purdue | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Kansas State at Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | FOX
Boston College at Florida State | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
Hawaii at New Mexico St. | 8 p.m. | TBD
Louisiana at UL Monroe | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
USC at Oregon State | 9:30 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
Wyoming at BYU | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN2
Utah at Arizona St. | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Stanford at Washington | 10:30 p.m. | FS1
Western Michigan at San Jose State | 10:30 p.m. | CBSSN

Want to take my son to his first OSU game this coming Saturday night. If anyone has two for sale or a bead on a good offering I’d appreciate any tips.

I’ve only attended a handful myself and usually as a guest, so not sure what to look for or avoid in terms of seat selections. Also, are paper tickets still a thing or have they gone all digital? More than anything, want to make sure I don’t get scammed in the secondary market or if I go the scalper route.

Hetuck said:

And no, giving up 21 to a MAC team is a concern despite putting up over 70...on a MAC team.

Click to expand...

Whinging vagina. Mewling quim. Your schtick is absolutely fucking exhausting.

21 of their 21 points was Finn being a fucking stud. We’re not facing anyone until Bryce Young in the CFP semifinal that can pull that black magic out of their ass.

I lost all these games when my hard drive crashed. Can someone please seed all these so I can reaquire them? Thanks

Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Ohio State looks to continue in-state win streak against Toledo
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The Rockets come to town having beaten up on two lesser opponents in their 2-0 start.

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

Listen to the episode and subscribe:

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


On this episode, Gene and Josh preview Ohio State’s Week 3 opponent, the Toledo Rockets. First, they touch on the news and notes from the Buckeyes’ weekly press conferences, including the latest on the injuries to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming. They then get into their Toledo preview, a team expected to be one of the best in the MAC. The Rockets should provide stiffer competition than Arkansas State did, but at the end of the day Ohio State is still the far more talented team — as evidenced by the 31.5-point spread.

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

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

As always, Go Bucks.


Connect with the Podcast:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod

Connect with Gene:
Twitter: @Gene_Ross23

Connect with Josh
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye

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Buckeyes continue to stockpile visitors for upcoming home games
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ohio State sees new names added to its game day guest lists.

Ohio State will take on Toledo this Saturday evening for the third and final non-conference contest before Big Ten play. Already a quarter into the 2022 campaign, the Buckeyes will be looking to continue improving in every aspect on the field, but have proven they’re more than capable of being one of the top teams on both sides of the ball so far. Not a perfect product just yet, to continue on the trajectory the staff and players want, this matchup against an in-state foe is another chance to really get things clicking.

On the recruiting side of things, this many home games for Ohio State allows the coaching staff ample recruiting opportunities thanks to the game day visit experiences. Several top targets and other prospects have already made their way to campus the past two weeks. But with two more night games ahead, it’s shaping up to be a massive start to the year in terms of how many guys are on the guest lists for each weekend.

The on-field results are priority No. 1, but as this staff and program have proved many times, recruiting is right there as a top priority no matter what.

2024 linebacker heading to Columbus this weekend


Though the Wisconsin game is shaping up to be the next big recruiting weekend for Ohio State, this weekend will also see it’s fair share of recruits roaming the sidelines in pre-game and taking in a Buckeye football game under the lights. As the names on the guest list continue to grow, a new one was added on Wednesday as a South Carolina native and class of 2024 linebacker, Jaidyn Penix, shared that he’d be making the trek to Ohio Stadium.

A 6-foot, 195 pound linebacker, Penix has been very vocal in the past about his interest in Ohio State. After camping for the Buckeyes this summer in June, Penix went as far to say that Ohio State had long been his “dream school” and that the two-day visit was all he expected and more.

An un-ranked prospect currently, Penix has received interest from Michigan State, Ohio State, USF, and several more schools, but does not hold any offers to his name at least right now. However, the coaching staff clearly thinks highly of Penix, as this next visit to Columbus was based on an invite.

Ohio State is certainly doing their best to wrap up the current 2023 class as strongly as possible, and with 2024 being a top priority as well, continuing to evaluate players at any and all positions is definitely under works. Jim Knowles being a linebacker coach by trade means his eyes will be all over that spot specifically, and a solid junior campaign by Penix may be what really gets the ball rolling in his recruitment.

Wisconsin weekend recruiting updates


The Notre Dame home opener was one of the biggest recruiting weekends Ohio State has ever had. With so many top national players on site for the Buckeyes, the coaches were able to keep Ohio State in the thick of it for many of their top targets. Next weekend, Ohio State plays already it’s third night game of the season in just four weeks, and the guest list for when Wisconsin comes to town is growing quickly.

With new names certainly still to come, here’s a just a couple who have already locked down their visit plans:

• Four-star, defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (Suwanee, Georgia/North Gwinnett). The No. 299 player nationally, McDonald is the 44th best defensive lineman in the class and the 27th best player from Georgia per the 247Sports Composite. McDonald has nearly 40 offers to his name and is most closely associated with Clemson on the 247Sports Crystal Ball feature. This visit to Ohio State, though, will be an official visit.
• Four-star receiver Mylan Graham (New Haven, Indiana/New Haven). The No. 69 player nationally, Graham is the ninth ranked receiver in the country, and the top player in Indiana for the 2024 class per the 247Sports Composite. Recently pegged to Ohio State on the Crystal Ball by Director of Recruiting for 247Sports, Steve Wiltfong, this visit is another big step for the Buckeyes in keeping the momentum.
• Four-star defensive back Bryce West (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville). The No. 37 player nationally, West is also the seventh best player at his position and the top player in Ohio for 2024 per the 247Sports Composite. A major priority in Ohio State’s 2024 class, continued visits to campus for West bode well to the Buckeyes adding him to their haul sooner rather than later.

Continue reading...

Play Like a Girl Podcast: Football is back baby!
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Cara Owsley-USA TODAY Sports

College football was pure anarchy and honestly, NFL was too.

On LGHL’s “Play Like a Girl” podcast, Meredith Hein, Megan Husslein, and Jami Jurich welcome in friends from around the LGHL, Ohio State, and sporting worlds to talk everything from Ohio State sports to advocacy for women in sports and all the happenings in between.

Check out the podcast below, and make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts:


How about week two of college football? Alexis and Megan dive into how happy they were with Ohio State’s big win over Arkansas State, and even more excitedly discuss Alabama’s poor performance against Texas. Plus, they discuss the ramifications of Notre Dame’s loss to Marshall— sorry Marcus Freeman.

The Fighting Irish’s head coach wasn’t the only one to feel bad for— what happened to Joe Burrow? Does his appendix need put back in? He certainly struggled to begin the season, but the Chiefs and Bills Mafia certainly have a lot to look forward to this season.


Contact Megan Husslein:
Twitter: @meganhusslein

Contact Alexis Chassen:
Twitter: @Lovelybuckeye

Continue reading...

You’re Nuts: Which true freshman that played vs. Arkansas State is most likely to be an OSU legend?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

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

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

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

Today’s Question: Which true freshman that played vs. Arkansas State is most likely to be an OSU legend?


Note: For this exercise, we are just going to be looking at the true freshmen that played on either offense or defense. According to Pro Football Focus, those players were defensive end Omari Abor, cornerback Jyaire Brown, defensive lineman Caden Curry, running back Dallan Hayden, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, defensive tackle Hero Kanu, safety Kye Stokes, and offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola.

Jami’s Take: Jyaire Brown


Saturday’s game against Arkansas State saw the debuts of eight Buckeye freshmen on offense or defense, each looking for their chance to contribute to the behemoth that is Ohio State football. It can be a long way from “debut game” to “household name,” but the odds are good that at least one of these players will go on to become a Buckeye legend.

So if I were you, I’d pay attention to Jyaire Brown.

The freshman cornerback out of West Chester, Ohio, was the first member of the 2022 recruiting class, and enrolled in classes last January so he could participate in Spring practice.

Saturday, he got to show us a glimpse of what he can do.

In his Buckeye debut, Brown played every snap of the Red Wolves’ final three possessions, leading all OSU freshmen with 15 defensive snaps. He recorded one tackle.

Now, I’m by no means saying Brown is going to become an overnight Buckeye sensation. He may not even reach legendary status by the end of this season. But he’s an exceptionally hard worker who I believe knows how to play the long game, and that’s where the Buckeyes are really going to benefit.

What we got to see glimpses of from Brown on Saturday was his versatility. Give this guy some time under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and the new secondary/cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and he has the potential to go on to be a Buckeye playmaker.

The Buckeye secondary has struggled over the last two seasons, though they seem to be in much better shape this year. This bodes well for Brown, as he will have the opportunity to learn and develop in this freshman season, while hopefully getting some snaps in during game situations.

Once he has that experience and those learning opportunities under his belt, I expect we could be looking at one of the next great Buckeye corners. Known for his dedication and hard work, he is hungry to develop, and he seems to be in the right place to do that.

Physically, Brown has the speed to stay on top of receivers in games and to disrupt catches, making him a potential menace to opposing offenses. With the right coaching, he certainly has what it takes to start in seasons to come, and I think we’re going to be hearing his name associated with momentum-shifting plays as he comes into his own as a collegiate athlete.

Ohio State’s freshman class this season is absolutely stacked. There are showy players on both sides of the ball that have the potential to take this program all the way. But don’t sleep on Jyaire Brown — he’s the real deal.

Matt’s Take: Caden Curry


Is this a trick? I feel like based on what we saw on Saturday, Jami not taking Caden Curry is some sort of gimmick. Either way, I’m not complaining. The edge rusher from Greenwood, Ind. played 12 snaps against Arkansas State on Saturday and racked up four tackles, including one for loss.

While he obviously played primarily in garbage time, Curry ranks as the second-best defensive player on Ohio State’s squad according to PFF’s grades. Ironically, he grades out behind only fellow true freshman Kenyatta Jackson.

During Tuesday’s media availability, OSU head coach Ryan Day said that Curry has flashed multiple times during camp and in the early season, adding, “The more he plays the more he’s gonna find a role for himself. He’s been productive since he got here.”

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said of his freshman lineman, “He’s another guy that I noticed right when I got here. His first step, he’s tough ... I think he showed that he can play, he can definitely be in the mix.”


Getting the opportunity to play as a true freshman is incredibly valuable when trying to become a Buckeye legend. Not only does it help your recognition level amongst fans, but it also allows you to acclimate to the college game faster than you would if you were only getting reps as a third-stringer or scout teamer.

Ohio State has a history of producing elite edge rushers, and while they haven’t had a dominant player at that position since Chase Young left for the NFL following the 2019 season, the pedigree is certainly there. With Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau just one year ahead of Curry, he will have the opportunity to work with, learn from, and compete for playing time against two of the best DEs in the country, giving him the opportunity to shine in his third — and potentially final — year as a Buckeye.

Also, given how defensive line coach Larry Johnson loves to rotate players across the front, there is no doubt that Curry will continue to have opportunities to play, gain experience, and grow as a beloved backup until it is his time to take the spotlight.

His athletic ability is obvious to everyone — including the OSU coaches, apparently — and as a defensive end, Caden Curry is in the best possible position to succeed given the current depth chart, Johnson’s coaching philosophy, and the program’s rich history of turning out elite edge rushers.

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Toledo Defensive Player to Watch: DE/LB Jamal Hines
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Hines is one of the MAC’s best hybrid defenders, and he will be leading a Toledo defense which has given up just 10 total points in their first two games.

In 2019, the Toledo Rockets finished 102nd out of 130 teams in scoring defense. They nearly bottomed out by surrendering 32.2 points per game, one year after giving up 30.5 per – which was “good” for 84th. The issue? Apparently it was the team’s former defensive coordinator, because since then, the Rockets have finished 36th and 28th respectively, dropping their average down to 21.8 PPG allowed in 2021.

As for 2022? Toledo has surrendered just 10 points. Not per game, but total! Take a bow, Vince Kehres. You deserve a ton of credit. Kehres was hired as the team’s DC in 2020, leaving his head coach position at Division III Mount Union. If the name and/or school sounds familiar, it is for good reason. Kehres won two DIII championships in seven seasons as the HC of the Purple Raiders, compiling a 95-6 overall record.

For a coach at any level, that is pretty impressive. However, Vince Kehres was not even the most successful Mount Union coach in his own family. Not by a long shot. His father Larry won 11 DIII championships during an absurdly-dominant 27-year run in Alliance (OH), while concurrently serving as the school’s athletic director for most of them (1985-2020). The elder’s .929 winning percentage is the best in CFB history, earning him a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame (2017 class). But as impressive as the Kehres family is and was, you’re probably asking me to get back to the Toledo Rockets. Say no more...

Toledo HC Jason Candle brought the younger Kehres aboard in 2020, due in part to their familiarity with each other. Coach Candle was a player at Mount Union, before joining their staff in 2003. He then moved on to Toledo in 2009, but maintained a strong relationship with the Kehres family and reached out when he needed a DC for his own coaching staff. Both likely acknowledged that the MAC was a big step up in competition for Kehres, but the Rockets couldn’t get much worse than they were in 2019, so the band was reunited. And it has been a successful venture for all parties involved.

In addition to bringing his own scheme and ideas, Kehres has helped to develop some fine football players. Safety Maxen Hook led the team with 96 tackles last year after making just two appearances in 2020. Desjuan and Dyontae Johnson – not related, despite wearing No. 1 and No. 2 and having very similar names – combined for 156 tackles and 20.5 TFL last year, and have been a huge part of the defensive rebuild. And Tycen Anderson became a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

With the exception of Anderson, all of those players returned to Toledo and have helped the team jump out to a 2-0 start this season. But none of them are this week’s Defensive Player to Watch. That title belongs to Jamal Hines, a Cincinnati native and disruptive force of nature for the Rockets.

Hines was originally committed to the University of Cincinnati before flipping his pledge to Toledo in January of 2017. It might seem odd now, but the Bearcats were struggling under Tommy Tuberville at the time (can you believe this man is a ****ing senator now!?), while the Rockets were competing for MAC titles. Hines joined the team in 2018, and was listed as a 6-foot-2, 216-pound defensive end... 2-1-6. But despite his small-ish stature, this true freshman contributed right away. He played in 12 games, starting 10, and finished with 49 tackles, 9 TFL (third on the team), and 2 INT. The groundwork was laid for a productive college career, and Hines has not slowed down since.

From 2019-2021, Hines earned First, Second, and Third-Team All-MAC honors — making a jump up each season. Along the way, he also grew an inch and packed on 35 pounds, while diversifying his impressive skillset. In Toledo’s somewhat amorphous 4-2-5 defense, he has been used primarily to create pressure in the backfield, but the fifth-year player is also fairly adept at dropping into coverage. So he is now listed as a DE, but it really comes down to semantics, as he can fill multiple roles. However you want to define him as a player, just don’t leave out the fact that Hines is wildly disruptive.

Listed as a full-time OLB in 2021, Hines had a monster season. He finished third on the team in tackles with 88, and added 15 TFL and 9.5 sacks (led the team in both categories). But perhaps more impressivemis the fact that he finished in a tie for second with eight passes defended. Not bad for a big man. His positive momentum has carried over to 2022, as he is currently second on the team in tackles, behind former Buckeye LB Dallas Gant.

Hines is going to be a factor against the Buckeyes, and in all likelihood, he will not be the only one, because this Toledo team has a number of impact defenders. But the Rockets are still facing what could (hopefully) be a healthy Ohio State offense. Hines will need to be at his most disruptive, and receive plenty of help, if Toledo is going to remain competitive throughout. I will have my eye on him regardless, watching intently to see if he and his teammates bring the MACtion to Columbus.

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TC CAFFEY



RB

PLAYER PROFILE

• HEIGHT: 5-10
  
• WEIGHT: 218
  
• HOMETOWN: HUBBARD, OHIO
  
• LAST SCHOOL: HUBBARD
  
• YEAR: 1ST YEAR

Ohio State Overview

*Joined the Ohio State football program in June of 2022
*Is majoring in nutrition and exercise science
*Totaled 2,638 rushing yards as a senior in 2021, which ranks him 27th in Ohio high school football history.
*Added 37 rushing touchdowns, which is tied for 20th in Ohio history
*Averaged 219 rushing yards per game and eight yards per carry
*Named the Trumbull County Player of the Year and earned All-Ohio First Team honors in Division III
*Finished his career with 4,659 yards rushing and 57 touchdowns in 39 games

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/roster/tc-caffey/

2022 Hubbard, Ohio, Running Back T.C. Caffey Commits To Ohio State As Preferred Walk-On

Hubbard senior standout T.C. Caffey announced on Twitter he is committing to play college football at Ohio State.

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Column: Ohio State’s top individual performances against Arkansas State
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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There was a lot to be excited about during Saturday’s big win. Here are the starters AND backups I was most impressed with.

Who doesn’t love a good blowout win? While the close, back-and-forth games are super exciting, I physically don’t think I can handle watching that type of game every week. So, it’s nice being able to sit back and relax for (hopefully) two weeks in a row, not worrying about the outcome. Another reason these huge wins are great is that we get a chance to see the backups play!

Here’s who I was impressed with against Arkansas State:

Steele Chambers and Cody Simon

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Linebacker play certainly was not an issue in this past week’s game. Chambers tied for the team lead with six tackles, including four solo tackles, one tackle for loss, and a sack. The seven-yard sack came on Arkansas State’s first offensive drive of the second half. He was absolutely flying past their offensive line, and their quarterback didn’t stand a chance.

It is hard not to root for this guy. He was recruited as a running back, and now he was voted Defensive Player of the Game! His sack total already matches what it was for the entirety of last season. Chambers is off to a really hot start, racking up 11 tackles between the first two games.

He is looking really comfortable now after having a full season under his belt at this position. It was great that he went off against Arkansas State, especially, considering that the cornerbacks were struggling, so he picked up the slack. I’m excited to watch him pick apart Toledo Saturday as well.

I also wanted to shout out Cody Simon, who was phenomenal in the second half. He’s actually the other player Chambers tied with for team lead in tackles. He was quick and dominant, making tackles on back-to-back plays at one point. I was very impressed with what I saw from him.

Super Marv!

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I feel like it is almost unnecessary to include Marvin Harrison Jr. in this list because DUH. We already know how good he is. It took him one game to warm up this season, but he definitely broke out against Arkansas State. In case you’ve been living under a rock, he earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors and joined Joey Galloway in the Buckeye history books as the only two receivers to have two separate three-TD performances.

I would say 184 yards and three touchdowns is a solid day at the office. He looked unreal. The part I’m most excited about is how seamlessly he and Stroud looked together. This is only the third game they've played with each other, and their connection is already strong. Two of his three touchdowns were just things of beauty; the over-the-shoulder catch and the one where he caught it while being double-teamed. This guy is talented!

Dallan Hayden

Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

How about the third-string running back? Hayden slid into this position after Evan Pryor suffered an unfortunate season-ending knee injury, and he has taken advantage. Once Kyle McCord entered the game in the fourth quarter, his first five plays were either handoffs to Hayden or passes to him.

I loved watching Hayden run. He reminds me of Miyan Williams, just absolutely refusing to go down on that first attempt. He’s listed at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, so he is a good 30 pounds lighter than Williams, however, he still has that same aggressiveness in him. They both got that dog in them.

It’s nice to see that we have a hungry freshman in the running back room (sound familiar)? I don’t think we should have any concerns for this position group.

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LGHL Asks: What are you most looking for in Ohio State’s game vs. Toledo?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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

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

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes head into their final non-conference game of the season this weekend as they host the Toledo Rockets at 7 p.m. ET in The Horseshoe. With the end of the first quarter of the season now in sight, we wanted to check in with Buckeye Nation to see their thoughts on a few big-picture questions.

So, fill out the survey below and have your voice counted. Also, sign up for SB Nation Reacts in order to be included in the weekly surveys about topics from across the college football landscape.

Question 1: What are you most looking for in OSU’s final non-conference game?


The first two games of Ohio State’s season have been an interesting mix of impressive performances and missed expectations. Some of that has to do with unforeseen injuries popping up to some of OSU’s best players, and some has to do with fans and media getting a little over their skis in forecasting how quickly the new Buckeye players and coaches would get up to speed.

So, I will be interested in seeing what it is that fans are looking for the most against the Rockets. I have my personal preference here, but I will keep that to myself until we get the results.

Question 2: Eight true freshmen played offense or defense against Arkansas State according to PFF. Which are you most excited about for the future?


I think it is going to be difficult for a lot of true freshmen to see a ton of playing time this season, just because the Buckeyes returned so much of their production on both sides of the ball from last season. However, there have been a few that have popped in the first two games of the season.

Against Arkansas State, Caden Curry and Dallan Hayden both had some brief, but impressive, moments. There were some other true freshmen who played on special teams — including 17-year-old Sonny Styles — but we are keeping this question to just those who played in their normal positions.

This isn’t necessarily about what you have seen in the first two contests of the season, and rather about what you expect from their future, so don’t feel like Curry is the only possible answer based on how dominant he looked in garbage time against the Red Wolves.

Question 3: What is your current confidence level on OSU winning the national title?


Because we are a fan blog mostly filled with a bunch of homers, the vast majority of our staff chose the Buckeyes as our national title winners this season (this is actually true for nearly every season), but you can have different degrees in confidence about predictions, so we want to see how you are feeling about OSU’s chances to take home the CFP championship in January.


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


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

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Vegas Always Knows: A look at Week 3’s standout betting lines
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

What does Vegas know that I don’t with some of these spreads?

If you’re anything like me, you like to check out the weekend’s gambling lines ahead of time. On any given week, there are always a handful of numbers that stand out for one reason or another. Whether it be a questionably high spread or the wrong team is favored, at least in your mind, you always tend to ask yourself, “What does Vegas know that I dont?”

That is the question I'm asking with a handful of the lines for Week 3, courtesy of our friends over at the DraftKings Sportsbook.

No. 12 BYU vs. No. 25 Oregon (-3.5)


Of all the spreads available for this weekend, this is the one that confuses me the most. Oregon, who sits at 1-1 on the season, lost its first ranked matchup of the new campaign in a 49-3 trouncing at the hands of Georgia. BYU, on the other hand, is 2-0 on the year with one ‘upset’ already on their resume as they took down No. 9 Baylor this past weekend in a 26-20 thriller in overtime. While that game for the Cougars was at the friendly confines and the Ducks are the ones with home field in this matchup, I dont see enough there to sway this game in Oregon’s favor.

Bo Nix has never quite lived up to the hype, and has generally been a turnover machine against the stiffest competition, tossing another two interceptions in the loss to the Bulldogs. On the flip side, Jaren Hall is usually quite economic with the football, completing over 67% of his passes this season. BYU also won that game against Baylor without both of its top receivers, who could potentially return this weekend. I worry a bit about an emotional letdown coming off that exciting finish, but the Cougars are the more physical of these two squads, and I like Hall far more than Nix.

No. 11 Michigan State vs. Washington (-3.5)


This is yet another game where it feels like the wrong team is favored, but I think I understand this one more than the aforementioned matchup. Both programs enter this contest at 2-0, with the 11th-ranked Spartans picking up wins over Western Michigan and Akron while the unranked Huskies boast W’s over Kent State and Portland State. I dont think we’ve learned much about either of these two squads based on their previous opponents, however much like in the BYU-Oregon matchup, I trust one of these two offenses far more than the other.

We saw what Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr. was able to do when healthy in the Big Ten, and he is off to a fantastic start in Washington to the tune of 682 yards on a nearly 70% completion percentage with six touchdowns to just one pick. Payton Thorne hasn’t been quite as impressive for MSU, tossing four TDs with three INTs through his team’s first two games. I’m not sold on Mel Tucker’s ability to build an entire team through the transfer portal two years in a row, and I think I trust Kalen DeBoer’s offense to take advantage of a secondary that was one of the worst in the country a year ago.

As far as trends go, it is worth noting that Washington was just 1-4 against the spread last season when favored by 3.5 or more points, while Michigan State was 4-1 ATS last year when 3.5-point underdogs or greater. Different teams with different rosters this year, but an interesting statistic nonetheless.

Nevada vs. Iowa (-23)


This game isn’t as much about the wrong team being favored, as Iowa is likely the more talented team in this matchup. My main issue here is that I'm not sure an offense led by quarterback Spencer Petras is capable of scoring 23 points. After a miserable offensive season in 2021, the Hawkeye offense is somehow even worse in 2022. Kirk Ferentz’s team has scored just one touchdown through two games, barely defeating South Dakota State 7-3 on two safeties and a field goal and then losing their rivalry game to Iowa State, 10-7.

Petras may very well be one of the worst multi-year starting quarterbacks in the history of college football. Over his last seven games, the senior has thrown just one touchdown pass — compared to nine interceptions! Even still, Ferentz maintains that Petras will be the team’s starter, and so until that changes and/or he fires his son as the team’s offensive coordinator, I cannot see a valuable reason to lay 23 points to this Iowa team. Considering the Hawkeyes have scored 34 points total over their last four games dating back to last season — an average of 8.5 points per game for you mathematicians out there — I can’t comfortably put actual U.S. currency on this team to cover any type of double-digit spread.

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

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