January 18th, 2024 at 8:49 PM ^
We are the 3x defending champs. We are the favorite until proven otherwise. End of story!
January 18th, 2024 at 9:19 PM ^
Give me a break. They lost they're one transcendent player. They lost their QB. They haven't had a stellar OL since the Urban days. They lost to Missouri. OL/DL/QB win titles. They don't appear like 23' UM at any of those positions.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:56 PM ^
Their defense is gonna be very good. Experience returning matters, and they have a lot of it.
Ebuka will be a very good player, Cade Stover will probably be 1st team All Big/All American, and Henderson I think has hit his ceiling but will be good combined with the guy from Ole Miss. Their OL will be the question mark.
But they'll absolutely be the favorite to win the Big Ten next year.
January 18th, 2024 at 10:45 PM ^
Oregon has a better case for being the favorite. The have a loaded roster with ton of production returning with quality transfer additions, especially at the QB position. They are miles ahead of ohio state in that position. And they get OSU at home. OSU has to play Oregon and Penn State on the road.
January 19th, 2024 at 8:09 PM ^
Oregon and Ohio St are media sweet hearts.
In case you havent been paying attention media sweet hearts have been getting their asses handed to them recently.
OSU 0-3 vs Um last 3 years
Oregon 0-2 vs UW last year
Not good bob.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:05 AM ^
Stover is gone
January 19th, 2024 at 8:10 PM ^
No matter we would just shut him down with a random 3 star receiver anyway.
January 18th, 2024 at 11:18 PM ^
They still don't have an elite OL.That'll cost them.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
Dont care how stacked they are. Its every damn year.
Until Michigan isn't a top 3 defense I'm not going to worry about The Game much.
Michigan may not have an experienced QB this year so I can see it being like 2021 where they bully osu on the ground again.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:36 PM ^
The rumors are that Georgia and OSU are the top two for Downs. He is from Georgia, but since OSU wants him he will commit to the Buckeyes. Their NIL is similar to Georgia's, but they do get very good talent from the southeast over SEC schools.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:51 PM ^
OSU board was way more confident about this a week ago.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:08 PM ^
UGA just hired his former DB coach at Alabama to the DC at UGA so there maybe to much pull there.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:40 PM ^
Unless this is really new info — What I have been hearing has shifted to Downs heading to UGA rather than OSU. This would be to play for his former coach and primary recruiter at Bama who was snatched to Georgia immediately after Saban retired. (Same guy who was a big reason Domani Jackson transferred to Bama in December..)
January 18th, 2024 at 10:00 PM ^
OSU fans and media have been actively bragging about OSU has been tampering with Downs for the past week
January 18th, 2024 at 8:22 PM ^
Still hard to believe this guy walked into a toxic situation in Happy Valley and had moderate success.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:26 PM ^
Seems like he's going to be walking into another toxic situation.
January 19th, 2024 at 1:32 PM ^
He (at least to my appearences, I don't know him personally) is a good guy, who connected with his players. He's not a great coach, I don't think he's even a good coach.
But a good guy, not a good coach, what was needed there at the time. Thus, he had some success.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:24 PM ^
Do not threaten me with a good time. Tommy Reese was considered an upgrade LOL
January 18th, 2024 at 8:30 PM ^
Biggest problem is that buckeyes just got the biggest cheater in history on their side now with the texas am ad starting up the nil money cannons in may. Its gonna be 5 star city in ohio and they will buy their way to wins more than ever
January 18th, 2024 at 8:41 PM ^
I’ll believe it when I see it; next year included. Egbuka is no MHJ and Will did as well as one could expect with him while being hurt. I don’t think Howard is an upgrade from McCord. I can’t imagine that OL doing much of anything vs a year more with Herbert of Grant, Graham, and Benny.
Their defense will be very good. If they do pull it off next year, it will be on the heels of their defense.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:47 PM ^
They’re basically copycatting harbaugh style with the running game and defense. Yeah the OL is weak but they will start buying 5* tackles at record pace and no matter coaching/development/scouting 5*(college football nfl version of first round picks)do make all the difference
michigan does not go anywhere without 5*s jj , will and donovan the past 2 seasons
January 18th, 2024 at 8:50 PM ^
What did Texas AM win?
January 18th, 2024 at 9:09 PM ^
Big problem is tackles (offense and defense) take time to build up and develop. Time is the one thing Day doesn't have. Also, Larry Johnson seems retired in place so I dunno how much development the DL is getting.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:23 PM ^
Yeah the OL is weak but they will start buying 5* tackles at record pace and no matter coaching/development/scouting 5*(college football nfl version of first round picks)do make all the difference
That just… doesn’t check out.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:10 AM ^
michigan does not go anywhere without 5*s jj , will and donovan the past 2 seasons
Michigan did win the B1G in 2021 without 5*s starting at any of those positions.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:59 PM ^
I think their defense could be a little overrated. Their LBs were a weakness and they lost those guys. They lost 1 of their 2 decent DTs. JTT and Sawyer are good but not great IMO.
Until I see their offense I am assuming it will regress from last year.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:43 PM ^
At A&M, they had the one historic recruiting class in 2022 because their boosters have wealth the size of multiple islands. OSU has lots of wealthy boosters who are willing to put money into NIL, but who actually believes it is on par with A&M's?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:51 PM ^
It isn’t. Texas and A$M are both immensely wealthy.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:53 PM ^
The only reason they got 5* wr smith and 5* dl this year according to jbook (buckeye insider) is that Ryan day came in with 7 figure NIL deals at the 11th hour. Michigan gonna have to compete with this alchemy for next decade. Michigan hasn’t sniffed a 5* for 2 years now cause they don’t pay for play . Its the same ole same ole. When Will it start to catch up? Common sense says it will soon. Need 5 stars to win championships thats proven
January 18th, 2024 at 9:46 PM ^
OSU has been loaded with five stars for a long time now.
Michigan’s best players were four stars.
January 18th, 2024 at 10:16 PM ^
Jj and w johnson best players on each side of ball. Consensus 5*- stars always will matter
January 19th, 2024 at 9:54 AM ^
Sorry, but I would say Mason and Blake (or maybe Zak) were better than Will and JJ. But yes, it's nice (and somewhat necessary) to have some 5 stars that perform at their ranking as JJ and Will did.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:32 PM ^
In what world does Ohio State have more money than Michigan?
Why would we sit on our hands and just let them buy a National Championship unopposed?
January 18th, 2024 at 11:23 PM ^
Dude, how well did this AD work out for TAMU football? You cannot build a CFB championship team at this level without very high quality coaching and intense player leadership and dedication. I want OSU to go all in with trying to buy a championship, because it will end in failure.
January 19th, 2024 at 9:52 AM ^
As opposed to OSU's model historical compliance? C'mon they have been "all-SEC" for many, many years and that will simply continue.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:32 PM ^
Is Mclaughlin snapping next year?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:39 PM ^
More than a bit surprised they didn’t elevate Hartline.
I wonder why, down here he is held in VERY high regard as a coach and especially a recruiter. Bypassing him for this job may cause some internal strife.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:51 PM ^
Was thinking the same thing. Might he leave even with this perceived demotion?
January 18th, 2024 at 10:04 PM ^
Believe the idea is O’Brien is a rental for the next year or two. Hartline learns under Day during those years so Day can avoid firing or demoting Hartline, causing him not to leave.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:55 PM ^
This is why I'm confused
I thought they made Hartline OC prior to the 23/24 season.
https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/football/coaches/2023-24
He is listed as OC on their website.
I guess hes getting kicked back down to only WR coach..
January 18th, 2024 at 11:37 PM ^
Gotta think it's because the skillsets of a WR position coach and recruiter (which Hartline is really good at; far better than he is at driving an ATV on his own property) don't fully translate into architecting an offense, and you definitely saw their offense take a step back this year. Even though he was nominally an OC, IIRC I think Day was still doing much of the playcalling because he didn't fully trust Hartline to do that on his own, which diverted Day's attention from other head coach things.
If Hartline is happy sticking to the things he's good at while BoB is the primary offensive playcaller and takes that off Day's plate, then this could work out pretty well. But, the proof will be in the pudding.
January 19th, 2024 at 8:00 AM ^
Hartline being promoted to OC was always in name only to keep him around at OSU. They know how valuable he is to the program as WR coach and recruiter, but also knew they’d lose him if he didn’t get an OC title and pay bump
January 18th, 2024 at 8:43 PM ^
Lmao I hope so. What an absolute cluster that would be.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:43 PM ^
Dude is washed. I love it.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:43 PM ^
OSU will have a QB who is a legit running threat, plus Judkins and Henderson. Now Day is hiring a run first OC. They obviously are getting away from Day's natural pass first tendency.
Good for him in figuring out a necessary adjustment. And it is also clear that Michigan has broken him.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:47 PM ^
Never going to say "Good for him" when referring to Day.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:25 PM ^
Now Day is hiring a run first OC.
Who?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:47 PM ^
Wasnt he one of the worst hires Saban ever made at OC? I feel like I would love this
January 18th, 2024 at 8:47 PM ^
Tommy Rees would like to have a word
January 18th, 2024 at 9:31 PM ^
Tommy Rees - LOL