Tag: Ohio State

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith enters Ohio Stadium ahead of the Buckeyes' game against Michigan on Nov. 26, 2002. Dsc02916

Ohio St. cancels two-game series with Washington

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State nixed a home-and-home series against Washington, scheduled for 2024 and ’25, and will pay a $500,000 penalty for backing out.

The Buckeyes were to play at Washington on Sept. 14, 2024, with the Huskies visiting Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 13, 2025. The series had been agreed to in 20217.

No reason was given by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, but speculation centers on the potential of the Buckeyes having inbound UCLA and Southern Cal on the schedule beginning in 2024. The Buckeyes would have to make a West Coast trip in 2024, the same season as traveling to Washington.

The Bruins and Trojans are exiting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

“I have the utmost respect for the University of Washington and for Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen,” Smith said in a statement released Wednesday, “and this was a very difficult call to make.”

Smith said Ohio State will add an eighth home games for 2024 season to offset the $500,000 to Washington, due by February 2025.

“We are very disappointed that our student-athletes, staff and Husky Nation won’t get to experience these two games with Ohio State,” Cohen said in a statement. “Everyone has had these dates circled for a number of years and we were looking forward to these opportunities to compete against the Buckeyes. We are in the process of finding new opponents for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and will provide an update as soon as we have one.”

The 2024 schedule will be finalized by the Big Ten in October.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Xavier White (14) is tackled by Mississippi Rebels cornerback Davison Igbinosun (20) in the second half in the 2022 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

CB Davison Igbinosun set to transfer to Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosun, ranked by 247 Sports as 10th-best player in the transfer portal, will make the move to Ohio State.

Igbinosun, who will have three years of eligibility remaining, also considered Michigan, UCLA and Tennessee, according to multiple media reports.

He told on3.com, “I’ve been an Ohio State fan my entire life and everything worked out in my favor to get there. They have a history of producing first-round cornerbacks and I want to be next. Another huge reason is their receiving core, they’re the best wideouts in college football and competing against the best everyday will only make me better.”

Igbinosun, who is 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, had 37 tackles and five pass breakups while starting 10 of 13 games as a freshman for Ole Miss in 2022. The Union (N.J.) High School product was selected to College Football News’ Freshman All-America team.

Ohio State had just six scholarship cornerbacks on its roster prior to Igbinosun’s arrival.

The Buckeyes started the 2022 season 11-0 before losing 45-23 at home against archrival Michigan in the regular-season finale and then falling 42-41 to eventual champion Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

The Rebels also began the campaign well before tailing off, winding up 8-5 following a 7-0 start. Ole Miss lost 42-25 to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback Tristan Gebbia (3) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Transfer QB Tristan Gebbia picks Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Transfer quarterback Tristan Gebbia is headed to Ohio State, Rivals.com reported Tuesday.

Gebbia last played at Oregon State, and it was reported when he entered the transfer portal earlier this montk that he’d be seeking a medical redshirt to give him eligibility for a seventh college season.

The news comes just one day after Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud said he’s entering the NFL draft. Gebbia gives coach Ryan Day a veteran option for a Buckeyes program that will enter spring workouts with Kyle McCord and Devin Brown as the main competitors for the starting job.

The Buckeyes also will have incoming freshman Lincoln Kienholz on scholarship.

Gebbia, 24, was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2017, ranked the No. pro-style 9 quarterback by the 247Sports composite in the class. He initially signed with Nebraska, then transferred to Oregon State as a redshirt freshman ahead of the 2018, which he sat out due to NCAA transfer regulations. He missed the 2021 season due to a hamstring injury and attempted just 11 passes in reserve duty in 2022.

In all, he appeared in 12 games (five starts) for the Beavers, completing 128 of 200 passes for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions. He entered the transfer portal following the transfer of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from Clemson.

McCord, a five-star prospect when he entered Ohio State, backed up Stroud for two seasons. In 2022, he appeared in seven games and was 16-of-20 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown.

Brown played 15 snaps as a freshman in 2022 but didn’t attempt a pass.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) passes the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter of the 2022 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud declares for NFL draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

C.J. Stroud is turning pro.

The Ohio State quarterback declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Monday, all but cementing his name being called in the top five in April. Monday is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft

Field Level Media ranks Stroud as the No. 5 overall prospect in this year’s draft and the No. 3 quarterback behind Alabama’s Bryce Young and Kentucky’s Will Levis.

“This process has been difficult, and the decision, one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. As a kid, I dreamed of playing football at the highest level and after much prayer, I’ve made the decision that it’s time to turn those dreams into a reality,” Stroud wrote, in part, in a Twitter post.

Stroud finished the regular season with 3,340 passing yards and 37 touchdowns against six interceptions, making him a Heisman finalist for the second consecutive year. He threw for 348 yards and four TDs in the College Football Playoff semifinals against Georgia on Dec. 31, a 42-41 loss to eventual champion Georgia.

Stroud, 21, cashed in big with NIL deals. He said in June he is driving a $200,000 Mercedes SUV as part of a deal with a Columbus, Ohio, dealership and signed a three-year, $1.4 million deal with GT Sports Marketing.

The Southern California native finishes his Ohio State career with 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 25 games (21-4) as a starter. He was a two-time Big Ten offensive player of the year and the first quarterback in conference history to have back-to-back seasons with 30 or more touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes passing game coordinator Brian Hartline walks across the field prior to the NCAA Division I football game against the Toledo Rockets at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Ncaa Football Toledo Rockets At Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State promotes Brian Hartline to OC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State promoted Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator on Friday.

Hartline, 36, replaces Kevin Wilson, who left to become the head coach at Tulsa.

Hartline was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2022 for the Buckeyes (11-2), who lost to eventual national champion Georgia 42-41 in the CFP semifinals.

Head coach Ryan Day has been the play-caller for the offense and it wasn’t immediately clear if that would change.

Hartline joined his alma mater’s staff in 2017 as an offensive quality control assistant and was promoted to receivers coach in 2018.

“Brian has been successful in every football capacity for which he has been engaged,” Day said in a news release. “He has progressed incredibly well from college to NFL receiver, and then from quality control coach to wide receivers coach to passing game coordinator. He figures things out quickly and he is more than ready to now transition to offensive coordinator.

“Brian has also developed his receivers at an unprecedented level and he has recruited as well or better than anyone in the country. Now he’ll be recruiting for our entire offense and I think that is something that will be really positive for our program.”

Hartline was a fourth-round draft pick by Miami in 2009 and spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins (2009-14) and Cleveland Browns (2015). He caught 344 passes for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns in 104 games.

The Buckeyes also announced that Keenan Bailey was promoted to tight ends coach, offensive line coach Justin Frye was given the additional title of run game coordinator and running backs coach Tony Alford also being given the title of assistant head coach for the offense.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (77) headshot after the game at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr. declares for draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., widely considered a top 10 prospect, declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Tuesday.

ESPN ranks Johnson the second-best OT and the ninth-best eligible player overall in next year’s draft.

Johnson, at 6-feet-6 and 310 pounds, was a consensus All-American this past season as well as a first team All-Big Ten selection.

Johnson took to social media to announce his decision.

“It has always been a dream of mine since I committed to the Ohio State University to leave with both my degree and a Buckeye tree,” Johnson posted to Twitter. “I am grateful for the opportunity to accomplish both in three years. After having several conversations with my coaches and family, I want to accomplish the first dream of mine since I was five years old, which is to declare for the 2023 NFL draft.”

–Field Level Media

Georgia coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the NCAA College Football National Championship game between TCU and Georgia on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. Georgia won 65-7. News Joshua L Jones

Top dogs: Georgia No. 1, TCU, Michigan, Ohio State follow in final poll

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TCU finished runner-up in the national championship game and the Horned Frogs were No. 2 behind Georgia in the final AP Top 25 poll released Tuesday.

The Bulldogs (15-0) began the season ranked third and defended their national title on Monday night in a 65-7 rout to cap the first repeat in College Football Playoff history.

Georgia received all 63 first-place votes.

TCU (13-2) was unranked to begin the 2022 regular season but won 13 games to reach the championship game. Michigan (13-1), which lost in the CFP semifinals to TCU, finished third in the Top 25 ahead of Ohio State (11-2), Alabama (11-2), Tennessee (11-2), Penn State (11-2) and Washington (11-2). The Huskies finished the season with seven consecutive wins. UW is ranked in the final poll for the first time since 2018.

Ranked No. 1 entering the season, the Crimson Tide beat Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl with their only losses this season to sixth-ranked Tennessee (52-49) and LSU (32-31). The Tigers (10-4) landed at No. 16 in the season-ending poll.

Alabama was the last team to finish consecutive seasons ranked No. 1 (2011, 2012).

No. 9 Tulane (12-2) moved up five spots on the strength of the Green Wave victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl. The 46-45 loss dropped the Trojans (11-3) four spots to No. 12.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart looks on before the CFP national championship game against the TCU Horned Frogs at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia opens as big favorite for CFP three-peat

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Georgia coach Kirby Smart discussed the culture in and around the program that has set the Bulldogs up for long-term success competing at the top of the college football world.

That was last week, before Georgia went out and waxed TCU 65-7 on Monday night to claim its second consecutive College Football Playoff title.

“We’ve had a saying around our place for a long time that probability is not reality,” Smart said in the lead-up to the TCU game. “So, we don’t control what people say and probability. Reality is what happens on the field in between those lines. That’s what takes a lot more courage than just putting out probability.”

The reality is Georgia is now considered the class of the college football world. Accordingly, the Bulldogs have already been installed as the +275 favorite by DraftKings and the +300 favorite by FanDuel to three-peat next season.

How the pecking order falls after that differs, however.

DraftKings had SEC rival Alabama at +500 followed by Ohio State at +800, Michigan at +1000, and Clemson and Southern California tying for the fifth spot at +1400. Meanwhile, Ohio State joined Alabama at +700 at Alabama, followed by Michigan at +800 and USC at +1200 on FanDuel.

TCU, which fell one win short of completing its Cinderella story, opened at +5000 at both sportsbooks.

2023-24 CFP Title Odds (DraftKings)
Georgia (+275)
Alabama (+500)
Michigan (+800)
Ohio State (+800)
Clemson (+1200)
USC (+1500)
Tennessee (+2000)
Florida State (+2000)
Texas (+2200)
LSU (+2500)
Penn State (+2800)
Notre Dame (+3000)
Oregon (+3000)
Utah (+4000)
Washington (+4000)
Texas A&M (+5000)
Oklahoma (+5000)
TCU (+5000)

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Jack Podlesny (96) attempts a field goal against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter of the 2022 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Georgia rallies, wins 42-41 thriller over No. 4 Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Stetson Bennett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell with 54 seconds left as No. 1 Georgia rallied to defeat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta on Saturday.

Noah Ruggles missed a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left for Ohio State (11-2).

Georgia trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter.

The defending national champions Bulldogs (14-0) play TCU for the title in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 9. The No. 3 Horned Frogs downed the second-ranked Wolverines 51-45 in the other semifinal Saturday.

Bennett took the Bulldogs 72 yards in five plays for the winning score.

“It’s in our hands now,” he said of their final drive. “And then we scored and I was scared to death because they (Ohio State) played a hell of a game on offense.

“I was like, ‘Did we score too fast?’ Then our D stepped up. What a game.”

C.J. Stroud was 23 of 34 for 348 yards and four touchdowns for the Buckeyes. Bennett finished 23 of 34 for 398 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

“We came up short,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It came down to one play. It wasn’t just the last play. There were a lot of plays in the game you wish you had back as coaches and players and that’s what happens in a game like this.”

Leading 28-24 in the third quarter, Stroud tossed his fourth TD, a 10-yarder to Emeka Egbuka for a 35-24 lead with 10:37 left. Ruggles added a 25-yard field goal to make it 38-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

A 31-yard field goal by Georgia’s Jack Podlesny with 10:14 left in regulation made it 38-27.

Bennett threw a 76-yard TD to Arian Smith, and with a two-point conversion, it was 38-35 with 8:41 to play. Ruggles made a 48-yard field goal with 2:43 to play for a 41-35 score.

Smith had three catches for 129 yards.

The Bulldogs had rallied before.

Georgia scored 17 straight points to take a 24-21 lead on a 32-yard field goal by Podlesny with 1:44 left in the first half but the Buckeyes countered quickly to take a 28-24 halftime lead.

Stroud went 4-for-4 on the drive for 75 yards, the last a 37-yard TD to Xavier Johnson with 49 seconds left heading into halftime.

The score was tied 7-7 early in the second quarter when Miyan Williams rushed for a 2-yard score to put the Buckeyes ahead 14-7. Bennett was then intercepted and Marvin Harrison Jr. had a 16-yard TD to make it 21-7 at the 10:56 mark before the Bulldogs rallied.

Kendall Milton ran for an 11-yard score and Stetson tied it at 21 on his 3-yard run at 6:07 in the second quarter.

Harrison had five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half for the Buckeyes. He was unavailable for the fourth quarter because of a head injury. Egbuka made eight catches for 112 yards and a score.

“Ohio State probably deserved to win the game but we never quit,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “We didn’t play our best game. Maybe they didn’t either.”

–Field Level Media

Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the SEC Championship NCAA college football game between LSU and Georgia in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. News Joshua L Jones Syndication Online Athens

Peach Bowl: Ohio State-Georgia Preview, Prop Picks, Prediction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State’s blueprint for winning the College Football Playoff championship will be staring the No. 4 Buckeyes in the face when they play No. 1 Georgia in a semifinal game at the Peach Bowl on Saturday in Atlanta.

The Buckeyes (11-1) are coming off a 45-23 thrashing by second-ranked Michigan on Nov. 26 in Columbus, Ohio. They are only in the playoffs thanks to Southern California losing to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game, enabling Ohio State to be awarded the final spot.

Critics would say the Buckeyes don’t deserve a shot at the Bulldogs (13-0) after being manhandled by the Wolverines for the second year in a row.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said his players understand their underdog role – the Bulldogs are consensus 6.5-point favorites for the New Year’s Eve clash.

“I see a team that realizes that not a lot of people give us a chance,” he said. “We know what we’re in for, we know what the challenge is. Years and seasons and life doesn’t always go the way you plan. It’s about how you react to it and how you respond to it.

“As much as that (Michigan) loss hurts, we’re not going to overreact on it. It’s not worth it. We have a game against Georgia ahead of us that we’re focusing on.”

Day has never coached in the Peach Bowl, and he understands Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have the perceived “home” edge in Atlanta. Smart played in the Peach Bowl twice and has also been a coach in the game.

This is Georgia’s second game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this month. The Bulldogs whipped LSU, 50-30, on Dec. 3 to claim another SEC title.

All the Buckeyes wanted was another opportunity to redeem themselves, just as Georgia did a year ago. The Bulldogs lost 41-24 to Alabama in the 2021 SEC title game but as the No. 3 seed in the CFP downed No. 2 Michigan 34-11 before defeating No. 1 Alabama 33-18 for the national championship.

The Bulldogs have continued to dominate, beating LSU for their first conference crown since 2017.

“I feel like this year, coming off of a conference championship win we have worked harder than we did last year coming off of a loss,” Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson said. “It’s crazy because people may look at it as we’re complacent, we’re happy, it’s just another box we wanted to check, one of our goals. Our season is not complete yet. We still have goals that we want to reach. The Peach Bowl is the next thing we want to accomplish.”

The winner Saturday plays either Michigan or TCU for the championship in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 9.

BULLISH ON BULLDOGS
The public isn’t buying into Ohio State’s second chance. The line opened at 7.0 points at BetMGM and has only shifted slightly to 6.5 with Georgia drawing lopsided action with 82 percent of the bets and 85 percent of the money backing the Bulldogs.

The same spread line at BetRivers also has seen one-sided action with Georgia backed by 71 percent of the bets and 66 percent of the money. The line is at 6.0 at DraftKings with the Bulldogs garnering 79 and 88 percent of the spread action, respectively.

Since the four CFP teams were announced, Georgia also leads at DraftKings with 56 percent of the bets and 58 percent of the money to win another title at -125. Ohio State (+350) is last with just 10 and 8 percent of the action, respectively.

PROP PICKS
Over 62.0 Total Points (-110 at BetRivers): The line is slightly higher at 62.5 at the other two sportsbooks, but the Over has been popular across the board despite the Bulldogs sporting the nation’s second-ranked scoring defense (12.8) and the Buckeyes 13th at 19.2. Ohio State is second in scoring offense with 44.5 points a game compared to the Bulldogs’ 11th (39.2).

Georgia TE Brock Bowers Receiving TD (+100 at DraftKings): This has been one of the most popular player props at the sportsbook. The recipient of the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, Bowers has six touchdowns among his 52 catches this season.

Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Receiving TD (-105 at DraftKings): Buckeyes QB C.J. Stroud led the nation in passer efficiency rating. He threw for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns and six interceptions but will be without receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back TreVeyon Henderson due to injuries. Harrison Jr., who had 72 receptions for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns, will need to step up big time despite being a primary focus of Georgia’s defense.

PREDICTION
Ohio State was dominated in the trenches by Michigan and will face an equally stiff test on both sides of the ball. The Buckeyes have plenty of talent to make this a highly entertaining game but ultimately will not be able to withstand the Bulldogs’ edge in physicality for four quarters. –Georgia 35-28

–Field Level Media