MY THOUGHTS...B1G Championship

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes crashed and burned in Indianapolis as terrible playcalling in the red zone, coupled with an inspired Indiana team, derailed their hopes of a conference title.  The Buckeyes settled for a field goal once in the red zone, missed a chip-shot field goal that would’ve tied the score, and were stopped on fourth down inside the five-yard line.  The offensive line was exposed as the Buckeyes netted a mere 58 yards on the ground and gave up five sacks after giving up only six in the previous 12 games.  Bo Jackson led the way with 83 yards rushing; the sacks of Sayin reduced the total rushing yardage.  Sayin went 21 for 29 for 258 yards and a touchdown pass to Carnell Tate.  For the second straight week, Sayin threw an early pick which resulted in a field goal; this time proving to be the margin in the game.  The lone bright spot in the offense was WR Jeremiah Smith, with eight receptions for 144 yards and Carnell Tate had a good game as well with four catches for 45 yards and the touchdown. 

                The defense did their best to counter the lethargic offense and terrible play calls as Sonny Styles led the way with 12 tackles.  Caden Curry did his best to wreck havoc, getting two sacks and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. turned in another sack.  Play maker Arvell Reese was limited to a single tackle, but Caleb Downs played an efficient game in the secondary, with eight tackles. 

                Congratulations are in store for Indiana as they defeated Ohio State for the first time since October 8, 1988 and won their first conference title since 1967.  Both Indiana and Ohio State should get first-round byes in the college football playoff matchups slated to come out later today.

B1G Championship: Ohio State v Indiana

December 6 Predictions

MY THOUGHTS.....Michigan

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes earned their first win over their bitter rival since 2019 with a dominating performance on both sides of the ball. 

                Settling down after throwing a pick on Ohio State’s first series, quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns.  Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate returned to the lineup, and each got loose for a long TD pass.  Tate led the way with five catches for 82 yards and a 50-yard TD reception, while Smith got loose for three receptions for 40 yards and Ohio State’s first touchdown, a 35-yarder from Sayin on a fourth-and-five play.  Not enough can be said about the Ohio State offensive line who put a serious beat down on Michigan’s defensive front.  Sayin never came close to getting sacked and the line was able to pound Michigan into submission on a 20-play, 81-yard drive that took nearly 12 minutes off the clock between the third and fourth quarters, resulting in a Jayden Fielding field goal for the final margin.  The Ohio State ground game, a source of concern in previous weeks, at times was able to gash Michigan’s defense, with Bo Jackson leading the way with 117 yards, averaging over five yards per carry, and ripping off a 36-yarder, leading to Fielding’s first field goal.  C.J. Donaldson and Isaiah West also contributed with 44 and 20 yards respectively. 

                The defense regrouped after allowing the Wolverines to dash down the field to begin the game, holding them out of the end zone for the entire game.  Sonny Styles led the way with six tackles.  Kenyatta Jackson had two tackles for loss and a sack as his three tackles for the game and Davidson Igbinosun played perhaps his best game of the season, getting five tackles and an interception that sealed the game. 

                The Buckeyes advanced to the B1G Championship game Saturday where they will take on the Indiana Hoosiers.  It will be a 1 verses 2 matchup, the second such matchup for the Buckeyes this season.  Back on August 30, Ohio State was #2 against #1 Texas.  This time, it is reversed.  It should make for a great game.

GAME 12: Michigan

Thanksgiving Weekend Predictions

MY THOUGHTS.....Rutgers

 

Despite a slow start in the first half, the Ohio State Buckeyes coasted in the second half to a 42-9 victory over Rutgers in the final home game of the 2025 season.  Playing without Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, the pass offense was way below the numbers it has put up in earlier games, with a mere 176 yards through the air.  However, the rushing attack continues to make strides, and the defense gave up one touchdown when the game was already in hand.  With Smith and Tate out, TE Max Klare was able to step up with a season-high seven receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.  David Adolph saw his most extensive playing time of his career and he and Brandon Innis each accounted for two receptions.  Bo Jackson cracked the 100-yard mark with 110 yards, averaging nearly six yards per carry and two touchdowns.  James Peoples saw extensive action for the second consecutive week, getting 55 yards and one touchdown.  Isaiah West also saw extensive playing time, with eight carries for 48 yards.  The run game churned out 254 yards, the best against a B1G opponent.

                Caden Curry was the star on defense, leading the way with six tackles, two sacks and the fumble recovery at the one-yard line.  Payton Pierce saw extensive playing time and responded with five tackles, along with Sonny Styles.  Rutgers’ offense was hardly elite, but they entered the game ranked 22^nd in passing offense and 39^th in total offense.  The Buckeyes defense put a blanket on that offense for most of the game, giving up only 147 total yards and 81 passing yards.  They also allowed a mere 2.7 yards per play, stopped the Scarlet Knights on both their fourth-down tries and held them to four plays or less on five-of-ten drives.

                Next week, the competition and stakes really ramp up as the annual battle against Michigan looms up in Ann Arbor.  The Buckeyes hope to have Jeremiah Smith and Carnel Tate healthy as well as continued improvement in the ground game, which will be needed to come out of there with a victory.