Tag: buckeyes football

Breaking: Ohio State’s Ryan Day wins B1G Football Coach of the Year

He’s done it. In his first season as Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day has won the Dave McClain Coach of the Year.

Ryan Day, Ohio State’s first-year head coach, has won B1G Football’s Dave McClain Coach of the Year.

He has become the first Ohio State coach to win the coveted award in the last 40 years. OSU’s last Coach of the Year was Earle Bruce in 1979. Just a fun fact, Day was born on March 12, 1979.

That said, Day has led the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0 start with top wins over Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan. The Buckeyes are the last standing undefeated Big Ten team.

While this will certainly be an honor to him, Day knows the road doesn’t stop here.

The team will prepare for a rematch with Wisconsin Saturday and then hopefully onto the College Football Playoffs which they may be a lock for even in the worst possible scenario.

The interim head coach last season while Meyer was suspended and then the offensive coordinator, Day has done a terrific job with the Buckeyes, a team not preseason picked to win the conference.

The committees didn’t overlook the talent on the roster; they overlooked Day. He’s a leader and a top-tier one at that. Let’s hope Day’s magical season can continue Saturday.

 

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day believes Ohio State should have three Heisman candidates

Ohio State University’s head coach Ryan Day believes his Buckeyes have three Heisman Trophy candidates.

The Ohio State football team is 12-0, and it has been largely been due to the Buckeyes’ first-year head coach Ryan Day. He has figured out how to thrive with one of the most talented teams in the nation.

One of just three teams to enter the conference championship weekend undefeated, the Buckeyes have been dominant, crushing most teams en route to clinching the Big Ten East a week early.

Although Day has constructed most of the team’s quintessential gameplans, they’ve executed them behind three players that could all be considered finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

And Day is drinking his own Kool-Aid, also believing he has three players that deserve to be in New York for the ceremony.

Chase Young, Justin Fields, and J.K. Dobbins are the three. That trio involves one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks, the nation’s best defender and arguably the best running back in college football.

Young, with potentially three games remaining, already has the most sacks in a single season in Ohio State history this season — all while missing two because of a suspension.

As for Dobbins, he’s broken into the university’s top-two in all-time rushing yards while not even seeing the bulk of the second-half carries in what feels like the majority of Ohio State’s games.

Lastly, Fields has been the engine that’s created such a dynamic Ohio State offense.

In his sophomore season, Fields has 37 passing touchdowns and ONE interception. Tack on almost 2,700 passing yards, 470 rushing yards and ten more rushing touchdowns, and Fields has seemingly made every big play when it’s mattered most.

Fields and Dobbins put up four touchdowns each against Michigan. It wasn’t just this past Saturday that they’ve been atop their game, the dynamic duo has been running the Big Ten all season.

Had Ohio State been in more four-quarter games, we could be talking about any of these three as Heisman favorites. Sadly, it seems LSU’s Joe Burrow is running away with the award.

Still, getting at least two from Ohio State to make the trip to New York would be special.

Ohio State vs. Michigan: Weather no longer expected to be huge factor in “The Game”

Despite early doom and gloom, it now looks like the weather for Ohio State vs. Michigan will not play a huge factor.

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, dubbed “The Game”, was supposed to get a rude interruption by Mother Nature just a few days ago. A noon kickoff was thought to coincide with a nasty storm.

The Buckeyes will travel up to Ann Arbor where they take on the No. 13 ranked Michigan. Ohio State has taken on two other top-15 ranked Big Ten teams, beating them a combined 66-24.

That said, late-November games are never safe from the weather, and it was looking like it could play a factor for both teams. For Ohio State, the bulk of their games, excluding partially Wisconsin, haven’t had weather play a role.

However, the forecast has improved somewhat, and despite some chilly conditions, precipitation is not supposed to move in now until after the game is completed.

Any poor conditions could actually be on the side of Ohio State anyhow. The run-heavy offense should be able to battle in windy, rainy, and icy conditions.

But, that no longer appears to be a possibility.

Ohio State does have a top five running attack in the country AND the best defense so that should travel no matter what conditions The Game is played in.

Jim Tressel says Ohio State potential national title wouldn’t mean as much with loss to Michigan

Former head coach Jim Tressel said that Ohio State’s season, if they won the championship, wouldn’t mean as much if they lost to Michigan.

Former head coach Jim Tressel said that Ohio State’s 2019 season, if it goes on to win the national championship, wouldn’t mean as much if they lose to Michigan on Saturday.

This is quite the claim.

We all know The Game, which kicks off tomorrow at noon EST, is meaningful. Although technically it may not matter for Ohio State’s Playoff aspirations, it has all the importance in the world to the players and respective fanbases.

The third-most winning head coach in school history took that to the next level, saying Ohio State’s first championship season since 2014 wouldn’t quite be the same if it didn’t win Saturday.

Here’s exactly how the 2002 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year phrased his thoughts.

Tressel does have some room to talk here though. He was an impressive 9-1 in his time against Michigan so it’s difficult to say that he’s incorrect. It’s also difficult to say an entire season could be ruined by The Game. But, that’s what you live in with this rivalry and with being the head coach of Ohio State.

And … one could argue putting such an emphasis on this one contest has been why OSU has been so dominant over the last couple of decades.

The No. 1-ranked Buckeyes will line up as one of the only three Power 5 teams still undefeated at 11-0. The dominance that they’ve shown this season has made them a double-digit favorite, meaning Michigan, even at home, is a a significant underdog.

The Buckeyes should win, and if they don’t, it could be one of those rivalry-defining games in Ann Arbor.

This will be the Buckeyes last regular season game. They’ve already locked up the Big Ten East and will be playing in Indianapolis on December 7. But that doesn’t diminish The Game.

Ohio State Football: 5 CFP Scenarios to keep an eye on

Ohio State Football will likely make it into the College Football Playoffs, but there are still important scenarios to keep an eye on.

The Ohio State football team has a good shot at making it into the College Football Playoff as long as it takes care of business. Recently returning to the top overall seed, committee members saw a terrible Buckeye performance still turn a dominant win on the scoreboard against Penn State.

With the win, the Buckeyes pushed their record to 11-0. They were able to take down the Nittany Lions behind outstanding performance from DE Chase Young and company, and running back J.K. Dobbins.

Young totaled three sacks and a career-high nine tackles, harassing the quarterback on almost every dropback. Dobbins put up 157 yards and two scores against one of the best rushing defenses in the nation.

Now with wins over Wisconsin, Penn State and Cincinnati (beating the one-loss Bearcats by 42), OSU has to finish the season out with Michigan and then the Big Ten Championship Game, already having clinched the Big Ten East and a bid to Indy.

For CFP implications, their matchup with a red-hot Michigan may not matter much. However, for pride, it almost matters more than any other thing this season can offer.

That said, let’s dive into five scenarios that you’ll want to watch for as we enter the home stretch of games.

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Ohio State Football: Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins named Big Ten Player of the Week

Chase Young and J.K. Dobbins, following a 28-17 victory over the No. 8 Penn State, were both named Big Ten Player of the Week.

Chase Young and J.K. Dobbins, following a 28-17 victory over the No. 8 ranked Penn State, were both named Big Ten Player of the Week, along with Michigan’s Shea Patterson.

Young, who was awarded the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, managed a career-high nine tackles. He also set the Ohio State single-season sack record, with three against Penn State to push his season total to 16.5.

A consensus top-three overall pick, Young has been one of the most dominant players in college football and is up for year-end awards as the nation’s best defender and player.

As for J.K. Dobbins, he’ll be splitting the honor of Offensive Player of the Week with Michigan’s Shea Patterson. Dobbins looked unstoppable on Saturday, running for over 150 yards and two scores against one of the country’s best run defenses.

Had the bulk of Ohio State’s games been close in the fourth quarter, we may be talking about him in the driver’s seat to secure the single-season rushing record. Sadly, that won’t likely happen.

Through 11 games, Dobbins already has a career-high 1,446 yards. He’s also three yards shy of 1,600 all-purpose yards. He’s been a quality every-down back when Ohio State has needed him the most.

Both Dobbins and Young need to replicate the performance they had against Penn State this upcoming Saturday as Ohio State travels to Michigan.

Rivalry week is upon us, and it’s only fitting Young and Dobbins shine on what most Ohio State fans will consider to be the biggest game yet this season.

Michigan DE on Ohio State: “We don’t see them as unbeatable”

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a perfect 11-0, yet Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t think this dominant team is unbeatable.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a perfect 11-0, yet Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t think this dominant team is unbeatable.

I guess he hasn’t watch Ohio State. While that’s in partial jest, the Buckeyes have looked virtually impossible to beat at times this season. They combine a rare mix of unstoppable offense and forceful defense.

Yet, at the end of the day, Ohio State is beatable. Every team IS beatable.

However, with three fumbles, two of which led to critical Penn State points this past Saturday, Ohio State also proved that even at their worst they’re still a formidable opponent, downing the No. 8 ranked Nittany Lions 28-17

That said, Hutchinson is right. It’s just highly unlikely his Wolverines down the undefeated Buckeyes. Here’s his full statement.

Michigan is hitting stride, defeating Indiana last week 39-14. They also have a quality and telling victory over Notre Dame, a game they won 45-14. Now sitting at No. 10, the Wolverines have a chance.

According to ESPN, Michigan has just a 26.1% chance to beat the Buckeyes. That said, I’d bank on another double-digit victory for the Buckeyes.

Chase Young awarded the Walter Camp defensive player of the week

After a dominant effort against Penn State, Chase Young has, for the second time, been awarded the Walter Camp defensive player of the week.

After a dominant effort against Penn State, Chase Young has, for the second time this season, been awarded the Walter Camp defensive player of the week.

It was a terrific performance from the potential top-three pick. He put together a career-high nine tackles which included four tackles-for-losses. Young also had a game-changing three sacks and two forced fumbles.

It felt like every time either Penn State quarterback dropped back he was being harassed by the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist. Young is easily the best defender in the nation.

On Saturday, in the team’s 28-17 victory, Young also set the university’s single-season sack record, propelling his season total to 16.5. According to a released statement from Ohio State, that totals is the “most sacks by a Big Ten player in 21 years.”

Young is nearing two sacks per game and had could’ve neared the D-1 single-season record had he not been suspended two games. Since 2005, the record is 20 by Elvis Dumervil. Bleacher Report reported back in 2013 that the single-season sack record is 24 set by Terrell Suggs.

Without those suspensions, Young could’ve gotten close to that record. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end has 38 tackles, almost 20 of which have been for a loss, this season.

Ohio State superfan LeBron James welcomes back Chase Young

The Ohio State Buckeyes aren’t the only ones happy to see Chase Young back on the field; superfan LeBron James is as well.

The Ohio State Buckeyes aren’t the only ones happy to see Chase Young back on the field; superfan LeBron James is as well.

That said, Young, with a partial sack in the first quarter, he’s in the record books as Ohio State’s single-season sack record holder. Combine that with a tackle for loss, and his presence has certainly already been felt.

Everyone, including three-time NBA Champion LeBron James, knew the importance of Young. James, one of the best ever to play basketball, was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and has been a die-hard Ohio State fan ever since.

James took to his Twitter, which has over 44 million followers, to welcome back the protected top-three pick.

James and the rest of Buckeye Nation will be watching intently as Ohio State looks to capture its tenth win of the season.

Still undefeated, if the Buckeyes win today and again in the Big Ten Championship, they’re a virtual lock to be in the College Football Playoffs. Ohio State is currently leading 7-0.

Chase Young sets Ohio State single-season sack record in first quarter

Chase Young has made his mark on Ohio State-Penn State early on, setting the university’s single-season sack record as well.

Chase Young has made his mark on Ohio State-Penn State early on, and it just so happened with his first sack of the game he set the university’s single-season sack record.

Young, with just under six minutes to go in the first quarter, got to Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford. Just moments before commentators were warning of Young’s dominance.

With 14.5 sacks, Young has now passed Vernon Gholston who set the record in 2007 with 14.0. He’s been an absolute force, and it is key to also remember he was out the team’s previous two games.

The two-game absence may have taken him out of the running for the Heisman Trophy, but he’s still in the record books and can still take this team to some pretty special things in 2019.

Just think of what Young could’ve had as Ohio State won the past two games 129-35. That said, expect Young to have a huge impact on the rest of the game.

Young combined for 14 sacks his first two seasons, playing in 22 games. He is an expected top-five pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.