Category: BuckeyeWIre

Veteran NFL referee says overturned fumble was wrong call while the SEC crew defends itself

The Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Clemson had a very controversial fumble TD overturn. Veteran NFL referee disagreed with SEC refs.

Ryan Day was asked numerous times about the game changing calls made in the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson on Saturday night. He handled it with class saying it was too close to the game to answer without emotion, but calling it “overwhelming”. Buckeye nation is right there with you Coach Day.

In sports, it’s never one play that determines a win or loss, but it always feels like it. Yes, Ohio State had chances and missed some key opportunities, but in a game of this magnitude, the story should never be about the referees. However, that’s exactly what the SEC officiating crew did.

There were several controversial calls in this game, but none more egregious than the overturned scoop and score midway through the third quarter. Veteran NFL referee, Terry McAulay shared the same sentiment.

This is a great angle. There is absolutely no way replay should have reversed. “Indisputable video evidence” is simply not there.

Meanwhile, Ken Williamson of the SEC crew tasked with officiating the game defended their decision in an interview after the game saying they felt the ball was coming loose in the receivers hands.

Williamson said the play was reviewed in the stadium as well as at the video review center the SEC uses in Birmingham, and said they determined when Ross moved, the ball was becoming loose in his hands and he did not complete the process of the catch.

Ralph D. Russo – AP News

I’m not sure what video this crew was watching, but the ball doesn’t appear to be coming loose in the three and a half steps the receiver takes until Jeff Okudah strips it out.

Officiating is part of the game and sometimes that means blown calls. But the story of such a massive game shouldn’t be about the men in stripes and unfortunately that’s what we got with an overturned call that wasn’t “indisputable”.

 

Former Ohio State safety Brendon White transferring to Rutgers

Former Ohio State safety Brendon White has announced his intentions to transfer to Rutgers.

We now know where the last Rose Bowl defensive MVP is heading after entering his name in the transfer portal just a couple of weeks ago.

Ohio State safety Brendon White flashed on the scene at the end of last year to somewhat solidify an Ohio State defense that struggled giving up the big play. He provided some playmaking ability on the back end to come up and provide run support, as well as to act as the center fielder and erase big plays down the field.

It worked so much that he became a starter and gained notoriety for his performance in Ohio State’s win over Washington in the Rose Bowl.

But this year has been different.

The new Buckeye defensive staff switched up schemes a bit, and rather than play two high-safeties, has gone to just one more often than not. That has left more cornerbacks on the field and limited the playing time of White. Because of it, and perhaps other reasons we may never know, White entered his name in the transfer portal at the end of the regular season.

And now, we know that White will be transferring to Rutgers according to an announcement he made on his Twitter account Friday.

Of course it makes sense in some ways because former Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano is now the head man at Rutgers, so he knows White and perhaps the two were able to reconnect and make this happen for the benefit of both.

Either way, we wish nothing but the best for White and hope he finds success in Piscataway.

Michael Thomas sets NFL single-season reception record

With 144 receptions on the season, Michael Thomas broke Marvin Harrison’s long-standing NFL record.

After 14 games in the 2019 NFL season, former Ohio State standout wide receiver Michael Thomas had 133 receptions on the season. This season has already set records, and Thomas is very clearly the top receiver in the NFL right now, but the question was whether he would break Marvin Harrison’s single-season record of 143 receptions.

With two games, and Thomas average almost ten receptions a game, it seemed very likely. At halftime of the Week 16 game against Tennessee, Thomas was right around pace. However, after a slow third quarter, it looked like Thomas might have to wait until Week 17 against Carolina.

On a drive in the second half of the fourth quarter, Thomas was still three receptions short of the record. The Saints came out throwing, and three straight passes to Thomas meant that the record was now shared with him and Harrison. Ironically enough, the record-tying reception came on a pass from “Swiss army knife” backup quarterback Taysom Hill, not from Drew Brees.

That drive stalled on a failed fake punt attempt. Thomas didn’t have to wait long for the record, though. The Titans fumbled on the next play, and the next drive looked like it ended on a Michael Thomas touchdown reception–a fitting way to break a record that stood for 17 years. The touchdown was overturned (the ball was placed on the one-yard-line), but the record still belongs to Thomas, and it will likely stand for a long while.

And, in a fitting form of justice, the drive ended two plays later on a Thomas touchdown–and this one stood up.

Ohio State Football Recruiting: 2020 early signing period tracker – Update: Smith-Njigba in!

It’s the official start of the early signing period in college football. We’ve got your updates for Ohio State as they happen.

We’re here to get this wacky early signing day period off and running for you. Ohio Stat expects to sign somewhere in the low to mid 20s during this first day of the early signing, and we’ll keep you up to date as it all happens.

From the locked and loaded commits that can’t wait to burn up the fax machine, to the surprises and last minute changes, we’ll have it in our early signing day tracker below.

We’ll keep updating it throughout the day, so stay with us.

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Officially Signed

Julian Fleming, 5-Star WR, St. Louis, Catawissa, Pennsylvania – Signed

Paris Johnson, Jr, 5-Star OL, Cincinnati, Ohio – Signed

Lejond Cavazos, 4-Star S, Bradenton, Florida – Signed

Jacolbe Cowan, 4-Star DL, Charlotte, North Carolina – Signed

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 4-Star WR, Rockwall, Texas – Signed

Cody Simon, 4-Star LB, Jersey City, New Jersey – Signed

Luke Wypler, 4-Star OL, Montvale, New Jersey – Signed

Jakob James, 3-Star OL, Cincinnati, Ohio – Signed

Trey Leroux, 3-Star OL, Norwalk, Ohio – Signed

Grant Toutant, 3-Star OL, Warren, Michigan – Signed

Mitchell Melton, 3-Star LB, Olney, Maryland – Signed

Ty Hamilton, 3-Star DL, Pickerington, Ohio – Signed

Joe Royer, 3-Star TE, Cincinnati, Ohio – Signed

Josh Fryar, 3-Star OL, Beech Grove, Indiana

Miyan Williams, 3-Star RB, Cincinnati, Ohio

Jake Seibert, 3-Star K, Cincinnati, Ohio

Hard Commit, Signing Pending

Gee Scott, Jr., 4-Star WR, Sammamish, Washington

Lathan Ransom, 4-Star S, Tucson, Arizona

Mookie Cooper, 4-Star WR, Maryland Heights, Missouri

Kourt Williams, 4-Star LB, Bellflower, California

Darriaon Henry, 4-Star DL, Cincinnati, Ohio

Ryan Watts, 4-Star CB, Little Elm, Texas

Jack Miller, 4-Star QB, Scottsdale, Arizona

Remaining Targets Possible/Waivering

Cameron Martinez, 4-Star ATH, Muskegon, Michigan

  • Martinez was expected to sign with Ohio State today, but news broke late in the game that he will not be signing today, but waiting until February. This seems to be a byproduct of some hesitancy because of Jeff Hafley being named head coach at Boston College.

Clark Phillips III, 4-Star CB, La Habra, California

  • Phillips is also one seemingly having second thoughts after Jeff Hafley accepted the head coaching gig at BC. Phillips went on an official visit to Utah just before signing day and the world is awaiting his decision. He is set to sign with either Ohio State or Utah today.

C.J. Stroud, 4-Star QB, Rancho Cucamonga, California

  • Ohio State would love to land stroud at the eleventh hour and it looks like it’s going to happen. Georgia and Michigan were in on him early, but a late push seems to have given the edge to the Buckeyes. The coaching staff would love to add another high-end quarterback to go with Jack Miller in this class. He should be signing later today, but we’ll see if the rumors are true. He’ll announce at 12:30 PM Eastern today.

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Todd McShay claims Chase Young is “better” than both Bosa brothers

ESPN’s Todd McShay loves Heisman finalist and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Chase Young, saying he’s better than both Bosa brothers.

ESPN’s Todd McShay loves Heisman finalist and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Chase Young, saying he’s better than both Bosa brothers. It’s tough to say McShay is wrong here.

Young, the third-year defensive end, won the Chuck Bednarik Award which goes to the college football’s best defensive player. He also won Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year. Yeah, that was a no-brainer.

Young’s resume is loaded with accolades that include setting the school’s single-season sack record at 16.5 sacks so far. That doesn’t even account for the fact that he was suspended for two of Ohio State’s 13 games.

Those are a few of the many reasons why Todd McShay night think he’s better than both Joey and Nick Bosa, two players that have made name for themselves at the professional level.

“He’s better… I would take him No. 1 even if I needed a quarterback.”

The Cincinnati Bengals, with one win, will likely have the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. They need a quarterback, and Joe Burrow will be the obvious choice.

Burrow or Young will be the debate in Cincinnati, and it seems many would favor the franchise quarterback over Young at this point. But not McShay.

Ohio State Recruiting: 5 things to watch heading into the 2020 early signing period

It’ll be the third year of the implementation of the early signing period. Here’s five things to watch for Ohio state and Ryan Day.

Here we go with another crazy start to the early signing period for college football. It’s squashed right in the middle of all the playoff and bowl preparations, meaning coaches are working double and triple-time on the already crazy hours this profession demands.

Nobody really knew how this early signing period would play out, but what we’ve seen over the first two years is that over 80% of a college program’s class is typically taken on the first day of the period. That means its a pretty bid deal and can make or break the future of a place like Ohio State.

Here’s five things to watch heading into the 2020 early signing period set to begin on Wednesday.

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Ohio State vs. Clemson 2019 Fiesta Bowl Preview And Prediction

We’ve got all you need to know, including a prediction for the matchup between Ohio State and Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl.

Records

Ohio State (13-0), Clemson (13-0)

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Saturday, December 28
Game Time: 8pm ET
Network: ESPN
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ – Capacity: 63,400
All-Time Series: Clemson leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Clemson defeated Ohio State 31-0 in 2016 CFP Semi-Finals

It’s finally playoff time Buckeye fans! After the committee decided that LSU was more deserving of the No. 1 ranking, Clemson will be waiting in the desert.

This will be the biggest test Ohio State has faced all year. Yes, Clemson has not looked great, played in a weak ACC, and almost lost to North Carolina, but it has something the Buckeye players and coaching staff doesn’t have… playoff experience.

Having experience in these types of situations is huge. But there are also a lot of other factors. When the spotlight is brightest, who will be able to stay composed and make the necessary plays?

Next … The game plan

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Ohio State vs. Minnesota 2019 basketball game preview and prediction

The Ohio State basketball team is traveling to the Twin Cities to take on Minnesota. Here’s how we expect it all to go down Sunday.

The Ohio State basketball team is all set to travel on the road for the first time in the Big Ten. We all know how tough it is to win away from home in this conference, but this team seems to be on a roll.

Meanwhile, Minnesota has struggled early on in 2019 and will be looking for a huge upset to jump start an upwards trend. It’s the last conference game in a bit of a wacky schedule philosophy we’ve seen since the league went to 22 conference games. After this quick two-game dive into the Big Ten, the conference then steps back outside of the league until after the New Year.

Let’s dive into the numbers and get to the preview and prediction of what’s going to take place in “The Barn” in Minneapolis.

Records

Ohio State 9-0, (1-0)  Minnesota 4-5, (0-1)

All-time series record

Ohio State leads 87-57

Last meeting

Ohio State won 79-59 on Dec. 2 last year

Broadcast, TV, Game Time

Date: Sunday, December 15
Game Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Network: BTN

Next … The Ohio State Game Plan

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Justin Fields says he hopes to be out of knee brace by Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been nursing a sprained MCL, but he says he hopes to be out of the knee brace for the Fiesta Bowl.

We all knew Justin Fields was a little banged up coming into the Big Ten Championship Game. He seemed somewhat like superman in Ann Arbor after a lineman rolled up on his knee in the second half only to come back a few plays later and roll out for a 30 yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.

However, Fields didn’t seem all that comfortable Saturday against Wisconsin. Although, he finished the game with 299 yards passing on 19 completions and three touchdowns, the OSU quarterback wasn’t on his game in the first half missing some throws he typically makes. Fields was only 7-14 in the first half with no touchdowns and a costly fumble, but righted the ship in the second half going 12-17 with the three scoring strikes.

I had the chance to ask Justin if the knee was bothering him during the game and if it had an affect on the passing game. Here’s what he said:

“I feel like it did, but I’m not making excuses for the missed throws of course. But I definitely feel like it did, so hopefully next game I won’t have to wear that knee brace.”

Justin Fields

It seems like Fields is pretty confident he’ll be 100 percent going into the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson. Let’s hope he’s right and a few weeks of rest will give the sprained MCL time to heal.

He and the team will need it against the undefeated, and No. 3 seeded defending national champion Clemson Tigers.

 

 

 

Ohio State basketball beats Penn State: 3 Things we learned

Ohio State welcomed Big Ten foe Penn State to the Schott and routed the Nittany Lions. Here’s three things we learned.

Let down. What let down? Ohio State came back from an impressive beat down of North Carolina earlier this week and had to welcome in a good Penn State team for its first conference game of the year.

It took a minute to get in sync, but once the Buckeyes did, they put on a clinic for the ages. The shots were falling, the defense was making stops, and Ohio State showed it can play a fast-paced game as a part of what it has in its tool chest as well.

This team is surprising everyone with blowing the roof off the expectations coming into the year, and who knows what the future holds. One thing is certain, the sky appears to be the limit.

Here’s three things we learned about the 106-74 blow out of the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Next … Weapons loaded

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