Tag: Ohio State Football

Ohio State delt potentially devistating blow with another offensive line injury

Tough news to hear #GoBucks

Multiple reports are coming out of Columbus that starting center Seth McLaughlin tore his Achilles tendon at practice on Tuesday and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

The news could not come at a worse time for Ohio State as the team is preparing for the stretch run against 10-0 Indiana and arch-rival Michigan with hopes of a rematch against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship. The Buckeyes already had to reshuffle the offensive line once this year after Josh Simmons went down with an injury suffered in Eugene. The line has seemed to come together in recent weeks, but the coaching staff will now need to act quickly before Saturday’s matchup with the Hoosiers.

While the news is devastating and we feel for McLaughlin, we know injuries are part of the game. Depth has been an issue on the offensive line, but someone is going to have to step up. The most likely scenario is moving Carson Hinzman who has been playing left guard back to center where he was a starter last year and inserting Austin Siereveld at left guard where he started the first two games of the season while Donovan Jackson was injured.

No official word has been given from Ohio State on McLaughlin’s status, but it feels like there are too many reports saying the same thing for it not to be true. Time for the next man up as the Buckeyes look to finish the season strong.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.

Betting odds favor Ohio State football more than the national polls

Are the Ohio State Buckeyes the best team in the country? While the polls say no, the betting projections say yes.

The Ohio State football is the No. 2-ranked team in the country per both the AP and Coaches Polls.

Because of the fact that the top four conference champions get a bye in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes sit 5th in the CFP rankings. The betting odds do not share the same sentiment about the Buckeyes chances to win the CFP National Championship.

BetMGM Sportsbook has the Buckeyes No. 1 in the country in terms of likelihood to take home the championship, sitting at +320, which means a $100 wager would return $320 for a full payout of $420.

Oregon is No. 2 and then Georgia and Texas are tied at No. 3. Alabama is the only other program with odds within +1000 to win it all this season.

Simply put, the riff is created because the polls have to favor the undefeated Ducks while the betting trends can look past that and see how teams are playing throughout November and following the regular season.

Here’s a more analytical approach to the Buckeyes being the favorite to win the National Championship.

The Buckeyes have the best defense in the country, and their receivers are among the most talented as well.

Will Howard is going to be a key question mark. He will have to step up when the lights get the brightest. That said, the odds think he will do that time and time again as the CFP nears.

Ryan Day has high expectations for Ohio Stadium against Indiana Saturday

Ohio State football plays in front of a rowdy Ohio Stadium often, but Ryan Day wants it to hit a never-before-seen level on Saturday.

Ohio State football will welcome the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers to Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

One of the few places in the country that can sit six figures worth of people, Ohio Stadium should be a rowdy environment for the No. 5-ranked Hoosiers. It will easily be their most hostile environment this season.

Ryan Day is hoping fans can make it the “loudest” it has ever been.

Given this will be their only top-ten battle at home given how weak Michigan has shown to be this season, the Buckeyes’ faithful should come with ample energy.

“Let’s make it the loudest Ohio Stadium’s ever been. That’s what you want in November. You want it all on the line, you want a top-five matchup at home in November,” Day said via Eleven Warriors’ Andy Anders.

Coming off a win over Northwestern, Ohio State has looked like the best team in the country over the past few weeks, and it has a chance to continue to cement itself in that discussion on Saturday.

Oh, and if you had any concerns about Jeremiah Smith, he’s set go on Saturday.

Let’s hope all the stars can take the field as this is poised to be one of the most entertaining battles of the season. Kickoff is at noon ET, and the game will be aired on FOX.

Zahir Mathis, a five-star prospect, decommits from Ohio State football

Ohio State football had one of the best defensive ends in the Class of 2025, but it no longer does as Zahir Mathis has decomitted.

Zahir Mathis has decommited from Ohio State. He announced his decision on Monday and still appears to have the Buckeyes as a top school despite opening back up his recruitment.

Penn State seems to be the strong favorite as Mathis is from Philadelphia, but there could be many teams eyeing the four-star prospect. He had multiple people recruiting him from Alabama, so there is potential the Crimson Tide are able to scoop up the four-star defensive end.

Mathis is ranked as the 16th-best edge rusher in the Class of 2025 per 247Sports. That said, here’s his decision via Twitter/X.

The Buckeyes don’t have many incoming options for the Class of 2025 on the defensive line, so having Mathis decommit should sting some.

Mathis could’ve been alongside Alabama native Zion Grady, the 9th-best EDGE rusher in the class who is committed to Ohio State. Grady committed to Ohio State in June.

The Buckeyes still do have numerous four-star commits coming to Columbus next season with a class spearheaded by quarterback Tavern St. Clair, a five-star prospect and the top-rated Ohio State recruit. Ohio State will have a slew of talented players returning on both sides of the field as well.

Where’s Ohio State in latest College Football Playoff bracket? Full playoff picture after Week 12

Ohio State remained at No. 2 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Buckeyes. #GoBucks

We’re now 12 weeks into the college football season and that means we have an idea of where Ohio State when it comes to the landscape of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes beat Northwestern on the road — in Wrigley Field no less last week and remain right in the thick of things, even after the loss to now No. 1 Oregon a few weeks ago.

Ohio State debuted at No. 2 when the first College Football Playoff rankings were announced a couple of weeks ago, so even another loss would seem to have OSU in good shape with getting an invite to the inaugural 12-team playoff we’re all about to witness at the end of this season. The Buckeyes stayed in that spot last week and now, this week when the latest CFP rankings were announced Tuesday.

The format is an interesting one, and since it’s the first year of all the fun, we thought we break down where Ohio State would be in the playoff bracket if it were to end before any further games are played. This is merely a projection and things will change based on results on the field.

So … here we go.

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out

First-round byes as conference champion automatic qualifiers

No. 1 seed – Oregon Ducks (Big Ten Champion)
No. 2 seed – Texas Longhorns (SEC Champion)
No. 3 seed – Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion)
No. 4 seed – Boise State (Mountain West Champion)

Latest CFP rankings

Ohio State’s projected CFP opponent – Boise State

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoff. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

  • Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
  • Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Latest CFP rankings released after Week 12. Where is Ohio State?

Do you still feel good about where Ohio State is? #GoBucks

It’s Tuesday towards the tail-end of the 2024 college football season and that means the latest CFP rankings have been released after Week 12. Yes, there were some teams that lost among the top 12, so there was a bit of a shake up.

We are most concerned about where Ohio State is, and we’re happy to tell you that the Buckeyes remained at No. 2 — just like the past three rankings — just behind No. 1 Oregon. Behind the Ducks and Buckeyes and rounding out the top ten is Texas (3), Penn State (4), Indiana (5), Notre Dame (6), Alabama (7), Miami (FL) (8), Ole Miss (9), and Georgia (10). Just outside the top ten are Tennessee (11) and Boise State (12).

Here’s a look at the rest of the College Football Playoff rankings after Week 12, the third time the CFP committee has ranked teams and unveiled them.

Ohio State can probably afford to lose one more game and still make the College Football Playoff, but that leaves one of its goals off the table, and that’s winning the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes will next kick off for a top-five matchup with Indiana this weekend.

Where can I watch the third release of the CFP rankings for Ohio State football?

2024’s first CFP rankings will offer an early look at the playoff bracket for Ohio State football. Here’s how to watch.

It’s that time of the week again — at least at this point in the college football season. The CFP Rankings are set to be unveiled again on Tuesday, the third reveal of the season.

If you are here, there’s a good chance you are trying to locate when and where to watch these rankings to find out where Ohio State lands after its beatdown of the Northwestern Wildcats in Wrigley Field Saturday.

If so, you are in luck because we have everything you need to know to sit down after a long day of work, grab some food and a beverage of your choice and enter the debate fray on where teams like the Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns, and Penn State Nittany Lions fall.

Sorry, Michigan fans, it’s been a long season for you in 2024. Here’s how to find and watch the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night.

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show

TV Channel: ESPN

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch CFP rankings reveal live on Fubo (free trial)” link=”https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191261?irad=399332&irmp=1205322&subId1=SMG&subId2=NCAAF&subId3=2024″]

College Football Playoff rankings release date:

Date: Tuesday, November 19

What time is CFP rankings release?

Start Time: 7 p.m. ET

Ohio State football CFP rankings projection

There’s little doubt on where Ohio State will land. It was ranked No. 2 the last couple of weeks and there’s nothing that has happened to change that since Oregon is still undefeated and likely still No. 1. The Buckeyes haven’t done anything to fall below where they have been over the last couple of weeks.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.

How does the College Football Playoff format work?

The top four seeds will be on a bye as the CFP kicks off. The next four highest-seeded teams will host on-campus playoff games as follows:

  • No. 5 vs No. 12, winner will play No. 4
  • No. 6 vs No. 11, winner will play No. 3
  • No. 7 vs No. 10, winner will play No. 2
  • No. 8 vs No. 9, winner will play No. 1

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Urban Meyer thinks Ohio State-Oregon CFP semifinal is doomsday scenario

Ohio State football may take on Oregon in the Big Ten Championship and in the CFP Semifinal. Urban Meyer doesn’t think that’s a good combo.

Ohio State football will have one of its biggest games of the season on Saturday as the No. 5-ranked Indiana Hoosiers come to Columbus.

However, the Buckeyes are a heavy favorite despite their opponent coming in without a loss. Ohio State is expected to win the remainder of its regular season games, as is expected of the Oregon Ducks.

That would mean, without divisions in the Big Ten, the Ducks and Buckeyes would face off for a second time in the Big Ten Championship.

If the Ducks win, the Buckeyes should still remain as the best team without a conference championship, which will place them 5th in the College Football Playoff.

Assuming they beat the No. 12-ranked side and then the No. 4-ranked Miami, they could face the Ducks for a third time in the CFP Semifinals, also assuming Oregon beat the winner of Notre Dame–Tennessee.

Obviously all these matchups could change, but this has been what has been projected for the last few weeks, and it has an increasingly likely chance of becoming a reality.

Former National Championship-winning head coach Urban Meyer outlined how that could become a “nightmare” scenario for the Buckeyes and current head coach Ryan Day.

On The Triple Option, a weekly show hosted by Meyer, Mark Ingram II and Rob Stone, the former laid out why he isn’t a fan of the scenario from a coaches perspective.

“How about this, stare at this for a minute, so you got Ohio State, they’ll beat Boise (State) or at least they should. Then (if) they beat Miami they’re going to play Oregon for the third time this season,” Meyer said. “That’s a nightmare for a coach in a playoff. So they played in Eugene, they’re going to play in Indianapolis, probably, and then they’re going to play again in the [semifinals], unbelievable. First time ever.”

But, as we were reminded, teams change and morph into better versions of themselves. The Buckeyes should be better on a neutral field as well.

That said, with the new CFP rankings dropping later today, it should be a similar dance for a third straight week as the Buckeyes will come in at No. 5 and the Ducks will remain as the No. 1 seed.

Will Howard earns top Pro Football Focus passer grade for Week 12 effort

Will Howard went off against Northwestern, and he earned the top passer grade in the country because of his performance.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Northwestern Wildcats squared off at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, and as expected, the former came out with another easy Big Ten victory.

While their defense continued to perform at a high level and the running back duo did their part as well, quarterback Will Howard was the star of the show, earning the top passer grade from Pro Football Focus in Week 12.

Howard ended the game with 247 passing yards and two touchdowns, going 15-of-24 as a passer. Freshman Jeremiah Smith accounted for nearly half of those yards, ending with four receptions for 100 yards.

While there’s really no talk of Howard in the conversation for Heisman, he has quietly put together a complete resume, throwing just five interceptions and having a conference-high 24 passing touchdowns. He also has 2,484 passing yards and should pass his total from last season (2,643) against the Hoosiers on Saturday.

Now, those might not be like the video game numbers Cam Ward is putting up, but they are among the most efficient in the country.

Why Keanu Reeves would be the perfect guest picker for Ohio State vs. Indiana

ESPN’s College Gameday will have an array of options for their guest picker for Ohio State-Indiana. Here’s why it should be Keanu Reeves.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been rolling this season, and they are surging as the Indiana Hoosiers come to town.

The Hoosiers rank 5th in the country, and while their strength of schedule has been heavily criticized, they have still come out on top in every game. Regardless of your opponent, that’s impressive.

Ohio State will remain at No. 2 as the new polls are released.

Given this will be No. 5 vs. No. 2, ESPN’s College Gameday, which is a popular college football show that visits the campus hosting a high-profile college game that week, will be in Columbus.

Part of the show is where they pick the winner of the game they are previewing, which will be Ohio State vs. Indiana. They have a guest picker as well which is typically a celebrity.

Keanu Reeves, one of the world’s most popular actors, could be a fun selection. When breaking down a list of the prospects that Gameday could choose from, The Columbus Dispatch named Reeves among the many other options.

Why? Well, he’s been an Ohio State quarterback before. “Reeves did not attend OSU but was a quarterback for the Buckeyes in two movies: Point Break and The Replacements,” Ehsan Kassim wrote.

Reeves is an ultra-popular personality and has played an Ohio State quarterback in hit movies.

While there are numerous other options as well, that seems like the perfect combination, and he certainly is a person who would bring the energy to the crowd as well.