Tag: ohio state

Georgia football RB D’Andre Swift tells it how he sees it on offense

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift tells it how he sees it on offense

Georgia football running back D’Andre Swift played in what might have been his final home game at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, going out with a W one last time.

Though the Bulldogs were able to beat the nearly ranked Aggies of Texas A&M on senior day, the win wasn’t pretty from an offensive perspective.

Swift mentioned his frustrations with the offense and even got on to Fromm a bit during the game, with love of course.

“For us to get to where we want to go, we have to get better on offense.”

Against the Aggies, Swift carried the offense all game. 19 times and put up 103 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards. However, the offense failed to convert Swift’s yards into points. His frustration was justified, but he and Fromm are fine and understand that it’s just part of the game.

Georgia will have a mini bye-week in Atlanta next week to right the ship against Georgia Tech before facing the daunting LSU offense in The Benz. Time will tell if the Dawgs can turn it around and use better weather conditions to their advantage on the scoreboard.

The biggest reason Wisconsin should be confident versus Minnesota

Another look at the game we’re all waiting for: the Wisconsin Badgers versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

There are certainly reasons for the Wisconsin Badgers to be worried about the Minnesota Golden Gophers, but what is their main reason to feel confident on Saturday? One could come up with several legitimate answers. This is not a “there’s only one right answer” kind of question. However, I do feel that one answer stands out more than others.

You will recall how poorly Wisconsin played against Illinois. That was a distracted, uneven, emotionally subdued game the week before a big clash against Ohio State. Would that loss to Illinois lead to a dispirited, disjointed Wisconsin team in Columbus? No, it did not. Wisconsin lost to a better team that day, but the Badgers’ defense played its best 25 minutes of the season at the start of that game.

Yes, Wisconsin thrashed Michigan and casually brushed aside Michigan State. The statistics looked better and the thrill of emphatic wins certainly felt better. Yet, when adjusted for the caliber of opposition, Wisconsin standing up to Ohio State’s loaded offense in the first 25 minutes of play — allowing a measly field goal to a juggernaut — strikes me as UW’s best 25 minutes of defense this season.

The key point is that UW played elite defense one week after playing subpar defense. That tells me Wisconsin can put ordinary performances in the rearview mirror; adjust; and learn from mistakes. That first half against Ohio State told me that Jim Leonhard can — and probably WILL — have his group ready to handle what P.J. Fleck has in mind for the Badgers.

Yes, without question, a big reason for Wisconsin to be confident against Minnesota is the play of the offensive line in tandem with Jonathan Taylor. That running game can win in Minneapolis. That offense can control the ball and keep the Gophers’ offense off the field. Yes, it is painfully clear that the defense’s difficult second half against Ohio State was a product of the offense not keeping the ball as much as anything else. Wisconsin is in better position to help its defense in this game against Minnesota. If you want to cite that reason as the main source of confidence for UW against the U of M, I wouldn’t really argue with that.

I would only emphasize that even if Wisconsin’s offense helps the defense in this game, there will be moments when the Badgers’ defense will have to be self-sufficient. I don’t see Wisconsin scoring every time it touches the ball. I also don’t see UW completely shutting down Minnesota, either. My more precise point is that the Badgers will need to go through a 10- or 15-minute period in this game when their offense isn’t clicking, and they need to hunker down and thwart Minnesota’s offense. No, that dynamic probably can’t be sustained for 45 minutes. No, that dynamic definitely won’t be sustained for the full 60 minutes. It CAN be sustained for 10 to 15, and even for 25… as we saw against Ohio State, before the Buckeyes finally scored a touchdown late in the first half and then gained momentum after halftime.

Wisconsin’s defense slept against Illinois and then awakened in a magnificent first-half performance against an elite offense in Columbus. That is the foremost reason for the Badgers to expect success — and conquest — against Minnesota in the game of the year for both sides.

Falcons add Georgia safety in Draft Wire’s latest 3-round mock

After winning their previous two games, the Falcons are unlikely to land Ohio State defensive end Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft.

After winning their previous two games, the Falcons are unlikely to land Ohio State defensive end Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the team’s recent pass russ resurgence, it may not be the end of the world, though. Atlanta is likely to focus on the defensive side of the ball regardless of what happens over the final few weeks of the season.

It should come as no surprise that Draft Wire’s newest mock draft has the Falcons going defense with all four of their picks in the first three rounds.

Here’s a look at those four players mocked to Atlanta in Luke Easterling’s latest piece.

1st round (No. 8): Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Jeff Okudah is looking like a better fit as Falcons rookie CB Kendall Sheffield, the former Ohio State standout, continues to shine. Isaiah Oliver had a rough couple of weeks while Desmond Trufant was out, but has looked more comfortable since his return. Okudah is a blue-chip prospect that would immediately give the team another play-maker in the secondary.

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Big Ten Quick Thoughts, Takes On Every Game: Week 13. Ohio State Wins Big Ten East

Quick thoughts and takes on every Week 13 Big Ten game. @PeteFiutak Michigan State 27, Rutgers 0 It was only a win over Rutgers, but Michigan State really, really, really, really needed that. It wasn’t perfect, the running game was stuffed a bit too …

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Quick thoughts and takes on every Week 13 Big Ten game.

@PeteFiutak

Michigan State 27, Rutgers 0

It was only a win over Rutgers, but Michigan State really, really, really, really needed that. It wasn’t perfect, the running game was stuffed a bit too much and the offense stalled a bit, but Cody White went off for 11 catches for 136 yards and three scores, and it was a shutout over a team that was supposed to be shutout. The program can exhale for a moment – it hit the putt.

 

Rutgers just doesn’t have the offensive talent. Johnny Langan completed 8-of-20 passes for 57 yards with a pick, led the team with 49 rushing yards, and Isaiah Pacheco was held to 36 yards. It didn’t help that the Scarlet Knights were playing a team that cared.

The Spartans owned this game by more than the final score. They didn’t allow a third down conversion and held the ball for almost 38 minutes. There wasn’t any drama whatsoever.

Michigan State did what it needed to do, and now it closes out with Maryland for a shot at a sixth win and bowl eligibility. Rutgers’ season will come to a brutal but merciful end at Penn State.

Iowa 19, Illinois 10

Iowa played a typical Iowa game. It battled hard, played good run defense, and did enough to keep things moving through the air. It wasn’t easy, and it was a grind to do anything on the ground, but it was the eighth win of the season with just Nebraska to go. A shot at a ten-win campaign is still there.

The Hawkeyes couldn’t get any push up front – the Illinois D line did a nice job. Iowa ended up with just 79 rushing yards, and Nate Stanley wasn’t all that sharp, but he connected on a few bit pass plays with Ihmir Smith-Marsette catching four passes for 121 yards.

Illinois played relatively well despite only scoring ten points. The running backs didn’t get the ball enough – QB Brandon Peters led the team with 76 rushing yards – but the O averaged close to five yards per carry. The passing game didn’t cluck – Peters threw two picks – but it was an okay performance despite the final score.

It was a good fight, and now Illinois gets to go for a seventh win when it finishes up against Northwestern. If a 19-10 loss on the road to Iowa was okay, a loss of any sort to this Wildcat team would be totally unacceptable.

NEXT: Ohio State 28, Penn State 17

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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.

Chargers in attendance to scout Ohio State vs. Penn State

Los Angeles Chargers well-represented at the showdown between Ohio State and Penn State.

The Los Angeles Chargers are one of several teams in attendance for the big matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions. In fact, the team will have two representatives to scout the game.

There are a few players worthy of scouting attention in this game.

Ohio State

WR Binjimen Victor (#9)

WR K.J. Hill (#14)

RB J.K. Dobbins (#2)

NT Davon Hamilton (#53)

LB Malik Harrison (#39)

CB Shaun Wade (#24)

CB Jeffrey Okudah (#1)

CB Damon Arnette (#3)

Penn State

WR KJ Hamler (#1)

DT Robert Windsor (#54)

DE Yetur Gross-Matos (#99)

LB Cam Brown (#6)

CB Tariq Castro-Fields (#6)

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How to Watch Penn State vs. Ohio State, NCAA Football Live Stream, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Stream Penn State vs. Ohio State Live Online.

This is a game that both schools have had circled on their calendars for months. Saturday’s showdown between No. 8 Penn State and No. 1 Ohio State at the Horseshoe will have ripple effects for the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff. 

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Penn State vs. Ohio State

When: Saturday, November 23

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Penn State will have to do something that only one other Big Ten team has been able to accomplish since 2011. OSU has lost exactly one Big Ten game at home since 2011. However, The Nittany Lions nearly beat the Buckeyes in Columbus two years ago.

The winner of this game has not only won the East but the entire Big Ten, three seasons in a row. The last three meetings have been decided by a combined five points. In all three of those games, the winning team rallied from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter.

Defensive end Chase Young returns for the Buckeyes after a two-game suspension. He is the heart and soul of the defense and teams have to take extra time preparing just for him. The last time the superstar stepped on the field at the Horseshoe, he delivered four sacks against Wisconsin. Ohio State is also ranked first in the country in total defense, allowing 216 yards per game.

While Young has been getting a lot of attention, so has quarterback Justin Fields, who in his first year as OSU’s quarterback, has 31 touchdowns and just one interception. Last weekend against Rutgers, Fields went 15-for-19 with 305 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-21 win. Running back J.K. Robbins also has 13 touchdowns on the season and is averaging seven yards per carry.

How healthy are the Nittany Lions. Running back Noah Cain did more in warmups last Saturday than he did at Minnesota, but he still did not play against Indiana. With the absence of Cain, Journey Brown has stepped in. For the second week in a row, he rushed for at least 100 yards. Star wide receiver K.J. Hamler left last week’s game with an injury, but head coach James Franklin said the team is hopeful it will have Hamler this weekend. He has the speed to change a game in one play. Hamler turned a short reception into a 93-yard catch-and-run score against the Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium last season.

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford sure hopes Hamler will return. Hamler is his go-to wide receiver. Clifford ran for two touchdowns and threw for another in the Lions’ 34-27 win over Indiana. The redshirt sophomore is ranked first in the Big Ten in total offense (2,450 passing yards, 374 rushing yards).

The Penn State defense has shown its vulnerabilities these last few games but has still been solid this season. PSU has allowed a total of 58 points in the last two games and the secondary struggled to keep up with the Minnesota and Indiana passing attacks. Ohio State’s offense is better than both of those, so the secondary will need to step up its game.

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An Ohio State loss to Penn State could ruin Buckeyes dominant season

If the Ohio State Buckeyes lose to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday, their historically dominant season could be in trouble.

Ohio State, in 2019, won’t settle for a Rose Bowl-type finale. They need to make the College Football Playoff, and after the dominance it has shown this season, that’s the only possible way to dub this season successful.

However, the Buckeyes’ matchup with Penn State could put a serious sour note to the entire season if it doesn’t go their way.

The main reason why it would be so disastrous is that Ohio State would then fail to make the Big Ten Championship game, not being the front-runner to come out of the East with just one game to go.

The Nittany Lions may be 6-1 in conference play, losing to Minnesota, while Ohio State is a clean 7-0, but what’s important is the record within the conference and Penn State would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

A one-loss Penn State or Minnesota team that takes over as Big Ten Champs would be going against Ohio State in terms of making the Playoff. The committee seems to favor teams without bad losses and with conference championships. Or, that have an SEC logo on their chest.

That means Oregon and Penn State would both likely be competing directly with the Buckeyes. But, let’s remember one thing first: Penn State must actually beat Ohio State.

We saw Wisconsin, who once considered a top-two team in the Big Ten, get absolutely manhandled by Ohio State. There’s no reason to think the same won’t happen to Penn State.

With the return of Chase Young, Ohio State will be at nearly full strength, and this could be over in the first 45 minutes. If it’s not, this game could spell trouble for Ohio State’s historic season.

The game kicks off Saturday, at noon EST on FOX. Be there, and be loud.

Ohio State drains Mirror Lake ahead of Michigan matchup to deter dangerous tradition

Ohio State has drained Mirror Lake in an attempt to protect its student body of a dangerous tradition prior to their matchup with Michigan.

Ohio State has drained Mirror Lake in an attempt to protect its student body of a dangerous tradition prior to their matchup with Michigan.

It’s been a tradition over the last few years to jump into Mirror Lake prior to the team’s annual matchup with the University of Michigan. However, the late-season matchup and tradition has spelled trouble for students in the past.

After all, this upcoming week the temperatures will likely be in the 40s. Jumping into a lake at that temp is just asking for chaos, and Ohio State understands that.

In 2015, a student, participating in the tradition, was killed. This has made Ohio State use an “abundance of caution” as their matchup with Michigan nears.

Here’s the release directly from Ohio State Police on why they made the decision.

The statement, as seen above, notes that the lake will be refilled at a later date. That said, Ohio State clearly wants to promote tradition but not in a way that’s dangerous to their student body.

However, students likely won’t care too much when the Buckeyes march up to Ann Arbor and absolutely demolish their northern rivals.