Tag: Ohio

Ranking 134 college football teams after 2024 season: Ohio State No. 1, Arizona State’s big rise

The 2024 college football season is over. With Ohio State’s 34-23 win against Notre Dame, the longest season in history is in the books, from pre-Labor Day weekend to MLK Day.

I’ve done this exercise since 2017, and last year was the toughest final ranking I faced because of bowl opt-outs. Well, the 12-team CFP makes it even more difficult. Some teams have played four games since the pre-bowl edition of these rankings. Others have played none. Many others are in between.

Bowl games count, though opt-outs are generally factored in. CFP runs matter, but they aren’t the only factor in changes. The rankings are meant to represent a resume from the entire season.

For the third year in a row, I’ve included the preseason rankings to see how teams performed relative to my expectations. The biggest overachievers were Arizona State, Indiana, Illinois and Navy. The biggest underachievers were Florida State, Appalachian State, Utah and Liberty. I got one team exactly right — Ohio State — but many quite close to the original. For the record, I only put the preseason ranking in the table after the final ranking. Outside of the obvious surprises, I thought I did pretty well here.

This will be the last-ever Athletic 134, just as last year was the final 133 and 2022 was the final 131. Delaware and Missouri State join the Football Bowl Subdivision next season, growing these rankings to 136 teams.

Here is the final Athletic 134 for the 2024-25 season.

1-10

Rank	Record	Previous	Preseason
1	14-2	6	1
2	13-1	1	3
3	13-2	5	7
4	13-3	4	12
5	11-3	2	2
6	13-3	3	4
7	11-3	9	89
8	10-3	7	14
9	12-2	8	29
10	11-2	11	81

Immediately, I realized how difficult this exercise would be when I concluded Oregon should be No. 2. I had Notre Dame here initially, as the final AP Top 25 did. But as I went back through, the Oregon case was fairly simple on paper. Oregon has a win over Ohio State, unlike Notre Dame. It has four top-15 wins in total and has the fewest losses, none of which came against Northern Illinois. The 41-21 Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State may ultimately be how people remember this Oregon team, but the regular season still matters, to me at least.

Notre Dame’s run to the final was thrilling, impressive and earned. But the rest of the Irish resume was lacking. Oregon didn’t win a CFP game but had three wins over CFP teams (Ohio State, Penn State and Boise State), same as Notre Dame. Against common opponents (Ohio State and Penn State), Oregon looked better, and the Rose Bowl blowout loss to Ohio State is still better than the home loss to Northern Illinois, in my opinion. The new CFP bracket could make this part hard every year, but that’s my explanation.

No. 4 Penn State finished with one top-10 win here but had the same number of top-15 wins as Georgia, nearly beat Notre Dame in the semifinals and only lost to the top three teams. The Bulldogs stay ahead of Texas because they beat the Longhorns twice. Tennessee drops behind Arizona State to No. 8 because its resume hinged solely on the Alabama win that got worse with time. No. 7 ASU finished with wins against BYU, Iowa State and Kansas State.

Boise State slips to No. 9 after a competitive loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. It turns out No. 10 Indiana’s only losses came to the two national championship game participants, though neither game was all that competitive. The Hoosiers deserved their Playoff spot and still deserve an apology from Kirk Herbstreit and others. The win over Michigan looks better now and counts as a top 25 victory here.

GO DEEPER

Vannini: Indiana, SMU deserve an apology after yet another Alabama loss

11-25

Rank	Record	Previous	Preseason
11	11-2	17	75
12	11-2	10	28
13	10-3	14	6
14	10-3	18	82
15	9-4	12	5
16	9-4	15	45
17	10-4	16	16
18	11-3	20	19
19	10-3	21	58
20	10-3	13	17
21	8-5	31	8
22	10-3	23	10
23	9-4	19	51
24	11-3	24	55
25	10-3	44	114

BYU jumps up to No. 11. Why? The Cougars beat SMU earlier in the season, whipped Kansas State and demolished Colorado — with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter — 36-14 in the Alamo Bowl. While SEC teams like No. 13 Ole Miss got much of the attention around CFP snubs, perhaps BYU should’ve been in the same conversation.

Illinois climbs to No. 14 thanks to its bowl win over South Carolina. The Illini also beat Michigan earlier in the year. Alabama slips to No. 15 after the stunning ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan, capping the Tide’s first four-loss season since 2007. For the strength of schedule argument, the wins against Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri and LSU are the reason the Tide are even this high.

No. 18 Iowa State and No. 19 Syracuse move up after bowl wins, while Miami drops to No. 20 because it lost to both of them. Yes, Cam Ward didn’t play the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl, but the Canes only led by three when he left the game.

Michigan, 6-5 two games ago, finishes at No. 21 after closing with wins against Ohio State and Alabama. Not a bad rebuilding year after all. Four of the Wolverines’ five losses came to eventual top-15 teams.

Navy also climbs back into the top 25 thanks to wins against Army and Oklahoma since the last edition of these rankings. The Midshipmen also beat 11-win Memphis, which dropped just out of the top 25 as a result, even with the bowl win against West Virginia.

26-50

Rank	Record	Previous	Preseason
26	11-2	25	31
27	12-2	22	66
28	9-4	26	32
29	9-4	28	13
30	9-4	29	20
31	8-5	27	23
32	8-5	33	35
33	9-5	30	42
34	8-4	34	69
35	9-4	38	47
36	7-6	43	95
37	7-6	32	48
38	8-5	37	18
39	8-5	39	61
40	9-4	36	54
41	7-6	42	52
42	8-5	35	49
43	7-6	49	33
44	10-3	40	90
45	10-4	41	92
46	7-6	52	36
47	11-3	73	98
48	9-4	56	74
49	7-6	45	62
50	7-6	46	83

This is where the nature of other teams’ results impacts the rankings. Memphis, Louisville, LSU and Kansas State didn’t move “down” after bowl wins. It was simply due to Michigan and Navy moving up over them.

Florida finishing at No. 32 after the Billy Napier hot seat talk was quite a finish, closing with four consecutive wins, including against LSU, Ole Miss and a (very depleted) Tulane. Vanderbilt jumps to No. 36 after beating Georgia Tech. Iowa lost to Missouri in its bowl game but stays ahead of No. 39 Minnesota due to the head-to-head win.

Texas Tech drops to No. 42 after losing to Arkansas, while USC rises to No. 43 after beating Texas A&M. Nebraska climbs to No. 46 after beating Boston College. MAC champion Ohio jumps to No. 47 after beating Jacksonville State to finish 11-3. Pitt started 7-0 and ended at 7-6, in part due to major injuries, to finish No. 50.

51-75

Rank	Record	Previous	Preseason
51	7-6	47	41
52	6-7	48	39
53	6-7	50	15
54	5-7	51	21
55	6-7	53	50
56	6-7	54	27
57	8-5	55	72
58	9-4	66	120
59	10-3	70	117
60	6-7	57	24
61	8-5	87	115
62	6-7	58	26
63	6-7	59	46
64	9-5	60	77
65	5-7	61	34
66	5-7	62	68
67	5-7	63	84
68	5-7	64	40
69	5-7	65	94
70	5-7	67	11
71	9-5	80	64
72	9-4	82	125
73	8-5	90	57
74	8-5	91	65
75	8-5	83	105

Oklahoma drops to No. 53 after losing to Navy (with a depleted roster). UConn’s nine wins were its most since 2007, and the Huskies finish No. 58. East Carolina’s “rivalry” win over NC State sees the Pirates jump up and finish at No. 61, one spot ahead of the Wolfpack and another spot ahead of North Carolina.

Bowl wins by No. 71 Miami (Ohio), No. 72 Buffalo, No. 73 Texas State, No. 74 Toledo and No. 75 Northern Illinois, see all five finish in the top 75. While NIU beat Notre Dame in the upset of the season, the Huskies lost to Miami, Buffalo and Toledo, hence their position here.

76-100

Bowl losses see Western Kentucky and Georgia Southern drop out of the top 75. UTSA closed with four wins in its last five games to finish No. 80. But earlier losses to Rice and Tulsa are what keep the Roadrunners from being higher. South Florida beat San Jose State in five overtimes to finish ranked No. 88, while Arkansas State’s win against Bowling Green moved the Red Wolves up to No. 91 and the Falcons down to No. 92. The lowest-ranked team to win a bowl game was No. 98 South Alabama, which beat Western Michigan.

101-134

Rank	Record	Previous	Preseason
101	5-7	99	122
102	6-7	102	111
103	3-9	103	22
104	2-10	104	59
105	2-10	105	9
106	5-7	106	103
107	5-7	107	131
108	4-8	108	91
109	5-8	109	126
110	5-7	110	127
111	5-7	111	67
112	1-11	112	88
113	5-7	113	110
114	4-8	114	73
115	4-8	115	112
116	3-9	116	119
117	3-10	117	129
118	3-9	118	106
119	4-8	119	109
120	4-8	120	116
121	3-9	121	113
122	3-9	122	76
123	4-8	123	128
124	3-9	124	101
125	3-9	125	124
126	3-9	126	78
127	3-9	127	130
128	3-9	128	123
129	3-9	129	100
130	3-9	130	118
131	2-10	131	132
132	2-10	132	134
133	1-11	133	121
134	0-12	134	133

Western Michigan and Louisiana Tech were the only teams in this last group to reach a bowl game, but LA Tech’s bid and Independence Bowl loss to Army came because Marshall opted out of the game.

None of the teams ranked 103rd or lower changed, having finished their seasons long ago, but Florida State ultimately fell from an undefeated regular season in 2023 to a No. 105 ranking in 2024. The drop from preseason No. 9 is the farthest fall of any team in the last three years I’ve checked (the largest jump was 2022 Tulane, from No. 112 to No. 10). Purdue closes as the lowest-ranked Power 4 team at No. 112.

Kennesaw State won two games in its first FBS season finishing ranked No. 132, while Kent State became the first 0-12 team in the FBS since 2019. The Golden Flashes only had two games finish within three scores — losses against FCS St. Francis (Pa.) and Ball State, which fired its coach. I had Kent State as the preseason No. 133, and the Flashes still fell short of expectations.

(Photo: Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

After an exciting 2024 college football season, it’s time to rank the top 134 teams in the nation. Leading the pack is Ohio State, who claimed the national championship title with an impressive season.

But one of the biggest surprises of the season was Arizona State’s rise in the rankings. The Sun Devils made a big statement with their strong performances, earning themselves a spot in the top 10.

Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in the rankings:

1. Ohio State
2. Alabama
3. Clemson
4. Georgia
5. Oklahoma
6. Florida State
7. Texas A&M
8. Michigan
9. Penn State
10. Arizona State

Congratulations to all the teams who had a successful season and made it into the top 134 rankings. It’s sure to be an exciting year ahead for college football fans.

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#Ranking #college #football #teams #season #Ohio #State #Arizona #States #big #rise

January 22, 2025

College football Top 25 rankings for 2025 leads with Ohio State, SEC
The book on the 2024 college football season is officially closed with Ohio State taking home a national championship with a defeat of Notre Dame in the national championship game. So it’s time to start looking ahead to which teams will be fighting it out for a title next fall.

Ohio State comes in ahead of the best the SEC has to offer and Big Ten rival Penn State to lead the way in the USA TODAY Sports way-too-early Top 25 for the 2025 season.

The No. 1 Buckeyes have to replace quarterback Will Howard but will be able to surround the new starter with an elite collection of skill talent headlined by star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Coming in just behind Ohio State is No. 2 Texas. The Longhorns are set to embark on the highly anticipated Arch Manning era. Rounding out the top five are No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Georgia. The Crimson Tide are poised for a rebound in coach Kalen DeBoer’s second season.

Notre Dame comes in at No. 8 due to some uncertainty at quarterback. But a schedule devoid of any major contenders should keep the Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff mix.

The early Top 25 is dominated by the SEC and Big Ten. The two leagues have 14 teams in our rankings, including all of the top six.

The two Group of Five teams represented come from the Mountain West in No. 21 Boise State and No. 23 UNLV.

1. Ohio State (14-2)

The Buckeyes are ready to reload and make another run at the national title. QB Julian Sayin is projected to replace Will Howard and throw to what will again be an elite WR room. The defense will need to be almost completely rebuilt, which is a definite concern despite the way Ohio State has recruited the position. But there are building blocks on every level of the defense and one of the nation’s best overall players in DB Caleb Downs. The opener at home against Texas will be one of the biggest games of the year.

2. Texas (13-3)

It’s officially the Arch Manning era in Austin with Quinn Ewers off to the NFL. Expectations will be unrealistic, and the reality is that Manning has limited game experience against SEC competition. Complicating matters are some major concerns at receiver and the offensive line and defensive line. But this is a team full of talent compiled through strong recruiting classes and targeted transfers. Look for Ryan Wingo to emerge as Manning’s top target and for the defense to be led by LB Anthony Hill and DL Colin Simmons.

RE-RANK:Ohio State leads final NCAA 1-134 after national title

LOOKING AHEAD: Five teams that could crash playoff party in 2025

3. Alabama (9-4)

This is Alabama and Kalen DeBoer is under pressure after an inaugural season with four losses and the departure of quarterback Jalen Milroe. Ty Simpson is the expected replacement, and the skill positions look to be well-stocked with WR Ryan Williams likely to have more impact in his sophomore season. LB Deontae Lawson should be the anchor of a strong defense that has depth in the front seven and key returners in the secondary. This might be the best team in the SEC by the end of the season.

4. Penn State (13-3)

In QB Drew Allar and RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, three linchpins of the Nittany Lions’ offense are set to return. Penn State will lose star TE Tyler Warren, though, and need some major help at wide receiver. Defensively, the Nittany Lions lose edge rusher Abdul Carter but return senior Dani Dennis-Sutton, a likely preseason All-America pick. The expectations are that Penn State will again be right near the top of the Big Ten and in the College Football Playoff.

5. Georgia (11-3)

It was a surprising step back this season for the Bulldogs due to struggles on offense and some uncharacteristic stumbles on defense. Gunner Stockton looks set to be a solid starter at quarterback if talent around him raises its performance. Georgia added Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (Southern California) to boost the receiving room. The defense, per usual, loses significant players to the NFL but will reload behind LB CJ Allen and DB Daylen Everette. The Bulldogs won’t be as dominant as their title teams but they’re still good enough to make a run at a championship.

6. LSU (9-4)

The return of Garrett Nussmeier gives the Tigers one of the best quarterbacks in the country and was the first step in getting the Tigers into the playoff mix. Brian Kelly then went to the transfer portal to address needs at key areas. Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barrion Brown (Kentucky) arrive at wide receiver and the offensive line got some key additions. The gem addition on defense is pass rusher Patrick Payton (Florida State), but there is also help coming to the secondary. There will be no excuses for Kelly this season.

7. Clemson (10-4)

The defending ACC champions will be expected to repeat in 2025 and go even deeper into the playoff. The offense will be led by veteran quarterback Cade Klubnik and an up-and-coming receiver corps. But RB is a question mark after projected starter Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC title game. Defensively, look for Clemson to rebound under new coordinator Tom Allen after falling to ninth in the ACC in yards allowed per play this past season. The pieces are in place for a run at the national tile.

8. Notre Dame (14-2)

The Irish have clearly arrived under Marcus Freeman. The first question is at QB, where Freeman could tap backup Steve Angeli or roll the dice on youngster CJ Carr. Either QB will get to play in front of top RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The OL will benefit from the injuries that caused some in-season shakeups this past year, though the group’s effectiveness may come down to how young OT Charles Jagusah takes to the blind side. The schedule is once again pretty friendly, with road games against Miami and Arkansas but Texas A&M, Boise State and USC at home.

9. Tennessee (10-3)

Nico Iamaleava’s season was what one would expect from a young, heralded quarterback in his first season as a starter. There were growing pains and some highlight moments. The hope is there is more of the latter and less of the former in his third season with the program. Some reinforcements are needed at running back, receiver and offensive line to support him. The Volunteers should again be stingy on defense with LBs Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander returning and DB Jermad McCoy hopefully recovered from an offseason knee injury.

10. Arizona State (11-3)

Only a questionable targeting no-call and fourth-and-13 conversion kept the Sun Devils from the playoff semifinals. It was simply a remarkable campaign that has Kenny Dillingham looking to build on the surprising success that included a Big 12 title. While RB Cam Skattebo departs, QB Sam Levitt is ready to assume more control on the offense. Getting back WR Jordyn Tyson to full health will be critical after a knee injury ended his season prematurely. The defense has all-conference picks Xavion Alford and C.J. Fife to anchor the unit.

11. Oregon (13-1)

The defending Big Ten champs will have a new QB in former UCLA transfer Dante Moore. The offense will benefit from big transfers such as RB Makhi Hughes (Tulane) and OTs Isaiah World (Nevada) and Alex Harkey (Texas State). WR Evan Stewart is ready to be the Ducks’ No. 1 target. Oregon’s defense will be very strong in the secondary but does have new pieces to insert on the DL, including Southern California transfer Bear Alexander and rising junior A’Mauri Washington.

12. Florida (8-5)

There’s going to be a lot of hype for the Gators after their strong finish in 2024. It’s also mindful to pump the brakes and not get too high on their prospects. Momentum doesn’t always carry over. That said, there are enough pieces to push for a place among the upper third of the league with QB DJ Lagway expected to improve in his sophomore season. RB Jadan Baugh will carry the running game. The defense made major strides in the second half of the season and will be led by linemen Tyreak Sapp and Caleb Banks.

13. Illinois (10-3)

Eighteen returning starters from a 10-win squad will make 2025 one of the program’s most anticipated seasons in years. Whether Illinois contends for the playoff may come down to whether it can rebuild at WR without this season’s top two targets and find new starters to replace three seniors on the DL. With QB Luke Altmyer back to lead the offense, an experienced OL, all-conference LBs and a very strong secondary, the Illini have a friendly schedule and are going to be a tough out in a tough Big Ten.

14. South Carolina (9-4)

The Gamecocks may have been the best team in the SEC at the end of the season, so pushing for the College Football Playoff in 2025 seems like a realistic goal. QB LaNorris Sellers showed significant progress in his first year as a starter and should be among the best at his position in the SEC. With significant returns at receiver, the offense should be more balanced and allow Sellers to showcase his throwing ability. The defense had significant losses that will require retooling, but Dylan Stewart should push for double-digit sacks as a sophomore.

15. Kansas State (9-4)

The Wildcats are looking for QB Avery Johnson to take a big step in his second season as the starter after some bumps in the road paired with some brilliant play. More consistency should make the offense better with RB Dylan Edwards ready to carry the ground attack and Jayce Brown one of the top receivers in the Big 12. LB Austin Romaine and DB VJ Payne, the team’s top two tacklers, return for a defense that gets back to a level good enough to compete for the conference championship.

16. Miami (10-3)

There’s a lot that hinges on the availability of Georgia transfer QB Carson Beck, who was injured in the SEC title game and may not be able to throw until after spring ball. On paper, though, Miami’s talent level will have it ready to rival Clemson in the ACC if Beck is healthy. The strong points are a terrific OL, a deep stable of RBs and a reworked defensive backfield. But the Hurricanes need to identify production at WR and have to get the most out of a young DL.

17. Brigham Young (11-2)

If how you finish impacts how you start next season then the Cougars should again be in the playoff mix after blowing away Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Jake Retzlaff is back for his second full season starting at quarterback and will lead an offense that should be among the best in the Big 12 with quality depth at running back and receiver. The key area to address is the defensive line, which lost several key contributors. But there’s strength in the back of the unit to be good enough to push for double-digit wins again.

18. Michigan (8-5)

If the home stretch of the 2024 season is to be believed, Michigan is poised to reclaim its place as one of the top teams in the Big Ten. One reason for optimism is the clear upgrade at QB, whether it’s Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene or five-star freshman Bryce Underwood under center. The Wolverines should be strong on both lines even as the defensive front loses a star in tackle Mason Graham. Michigan still needs to find playmakers at WR to raise its offense to a level needed to be Big Ten contenders.

19. SMU (11-3)

The Mustangs will still be one of the favorites in the ACC but won’t sneak up on anyone in 2025. QB Kevin Jennings will be a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite after his breakout 2024 season. The OL and secondary look strong but there are depth concerns at WR and on the DL. SMU gets Miami at home but whether it can be a playoff factor hinges on road games against TCU and Clemson.

20. Iowa State (11-3)

In any other year, the Cyclones would have been the story of the Big 12 but were overshadowed by the emergence of Arizona State, BYU and Colorado. Still, they put up a school-record 11 wins and look to contend for a playoff berth in a conference race that should be wide open. QB Rocco Becht will be at the forefront of things, though he loses his top two receivers. Matt Campbell was aggressive in the portal to deal with those losses and address other areas. The defense, notably, must get better stopping the run to stay in contention.

21. Boise State (12-2)

There’s just no way the Broncos replace running back Ashton Jeanty, though the offense could try a by-committee approach to match his impact during a brilliant 2024 season. Boise will also need to retool at wide receiver to help returning quarterback Maddux Madsen. But the OL and DL will help the Broncos control the line of scrimmage and the schedule has fellow Mountain West contenders Colorado State, Fresno State and UNLV at home.

22. Nebraska (7-6)

After making a two-win leap into bowl play in Matt Rhule’s second season, the Cornhuskers are prepared to move into Top 25 territory behind sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola and a very strong transfer class. Nebraska will also benefit from an entire offseason under offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. There’s still a talent gap between Nebraska and the best of the Big Ten, but this is a team and program ready for the next step.

23. UNLV (11-3)

UNLV looks to build on a great two-year run with Barry Odom under new coach Dan Mullen. The Rebels have been very active in the portal, where they’ve signed maybe the best class in the Group of Five. To get to the top of the Mountain West and reach the CFP, Mullen has to get the most out of Michigan QB transfer Alex Orji and rebuild at WR around several Power Four transfers. The defense played very well down the stretch of 2024 and looks to build on that strong close.

24. Mississippi (10-3)

The Rebels are always going to have a lot of incomings and outgoings with Lane Kiffin using the transfer portal so prominently in his roster building. The first order of business is the change at quarterback with Austin Simmons taking over. The heralded recruit flashed against Georgia and brings a different dimension to the offense. Running back, wide receiver and offensive line also need rebuilding. The story is the same with the defense. LB Suntarine Perkins, who notched 10½ sacks, is one key holdover. There will be growing pains but time to sort things out with a home schedule that has eight home games.

25. Louisville (9-4)

Southern California transfer Miller Moss joins an experienced OL, terrific young RB Isaac Brown and senior WRs Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy for what should be one of the top two or three offenses in the ACC. Louisville will need this offense to offset personnel worries on the DL and at CB. While the linebacker corps looks solid, an iffy pass rush and coverage concerns could keep the Cardinals from the ACC title game.

Ohio State and the SEC continue to dominate the college football landscape in the latest Top 25 rankings for 2025. The Buckeyes are once again at the top of the list, showcasing their powerhouse program and talented roster. Meanwhile, the SEC is well-represented with multiple teams in the top 10, proving once again why it’s considered one of the toughest conferences in college football. Check out the full rankings to see where your favorite team stands in the highly competitive world of college football.

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January 22, 2025
Ohio State QB Will Howard sets new CFP title game standard with sizzling start in win over Notre Dame

There’s a new standard in the College Football Playoff era.

Will Howard has set it. The Ohio State quarterback completed his first 13 passes against Notre Dame in Monday’s CFP National Championship Game against Notre Dame. The start set the tone for a 34-23 Buckeyes win for the program’s first national championship since 2014.

The 13 straight completions are the most in a CFP championship game since college football switched from the BCS to the CFP in 2014. No quarterback in the 10 previous CFP title games threw 13 consecutive completions at any point, much less started a game 13 of 13.

It added up to a dominant start for the Buckeyes, who raced out to a 21-7 halftime lead after allowing an opening-drive touchdown to the Irish. Howard was pinpoint throughout the half, completing 14 of 15 passes for 144 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers.

He slowed down after halftime and finished the game completing 17 of 21 passes for 231 yard with two touchdowns and no turnovers. But his third-and-11, 56-yard bomb to standout freshman Jeremiah Smith in the final three minutes thwarted a Notre Dame comeback bid and allowed Ohio State to extend its lead to 10 points with 26 seconds remaining.

Howard’s sensational first half

Howard’s only incompletion of the first half required a tremendous effort from All-America Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts to break up a pass intended for TreVeyon Henderson in the red zone with 1:12 remaining in the half.

No matter for Howard and the Buckeyes. Howard followed up with an 11-yard run for a first down before finding Quinshon Judkins in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.

The score capped Ohio State’s third touchdown in three first-half drives in a perfect start for the Buckeyes offense. Ohio State’s first touchdown saw Howard find Smith for a walk-in touchdown from eight yards.

That touchdown marked the fourth time in four playoff games this season that Ohio State scored a touchdown on its opening drive.

The dominance continued in the second half as the Buckeyes took the opening possession of the third quarter 75 yards on five plays for a touchdown to extend their lead to 28-7. That drive was almost all Judkins, who set up his own 1-yard touchdown run with a 70-yard scamper from the Ohio State 25-yard line.

The touchdown was Judkins’ third of the night as he joined Howard as the co-star of Ohio State’s sizzling offensive showcase. The score also marked the first time in either the CFP or BCS era that a team scored a touchdown on each of its first four possessions in a national championship game.

Notre Dame threw the first punch Monday night. But Ohio State responded with an overwhelming offensive effort that the Irish had no answer for.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard put on a show in the College Football Playoff title game, setting a new standard with a sizzling start in a dominant win over Notre Dame.

From the opening drive, Howard was firing on all cylinders, showcasing his arm strength, accuracy, and poise in the pocket. He carved up the Fighting Irish defense with precision passes and timely scrambles, keeping the defense off balance and unable to contain his explosive playmaking ability.

By halftime, Howard had already thrown for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, setting the tone for the Buckeyes’ offensive onslaught. His stellar performance continued in the second half, as he led Ohio State to a resounding victory and their second national championship in three years.

Howard’s performance in the title game will go down in history as one of the best in CFP history, solidifying his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. With his exceptional talent and leadership, the sky is the limit for Howard and the Ohio State Buckeyes as they look to continue their dominance in college football.

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Ohio State QB, Will Howard, CFP title game, new standard, sizzling start, win, Notre Dame, college football, championship, record-breaking performance, Ohio State Buckeyes, standout performance.

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January 22, 2025
Sub-zero temperatures force closures across Northeast Ohio
CLEVELAND, Ohio — It was minus-5 degrees in Cleveland just after 5 a.m. today, with wind chills making it feel like it was minus-18, according to the National Weather Service. And it was expected to get colder before warming up later in the morning.

That put the region in an extreme cold warning until 10 a.m. today because wind chills in some areas could make it feel like it was minus-26 degrees. The potentially dangerous conditions resulted in most school districts in the region, including Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Akron City Schools, canceling classes for the day.

Kent State University will have no in-person morning classes and Cuyahoga Community College is closed. Lorain County Community College is opening four hours late and Lakeland Community College will open at 10 a.m. Hiram College opens at 11:30 a.m.

School districts aren’t the only institutions affected. Cleveland City Hall will be closed today and trash pickup will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. Some municipal courts, including in Elyria and Garfield Heights, will not be open today.

Warming centers in Cleveland and Akron will be open today. Highs will reach the low teens but wind chills will make it feel much colder, forecasters say.

Below is a list of school closings provided through cleveland.com news partner WKYC Channel 3. The schools listed are closed today unless otherwise noted:

Agape Christian Academy.

Akron Montessori School

Akron Public Schools

Akros Middle School

AkroTech High School

Albert Einstein Academy – all campuses

All Saints of St. John Vianney

Amherst Exempted Village Schools

Andrews Osborne Academy

Apex Academy

Archbishop Hoban High School

Arlington Christian Academy Elementary

Ashtabula Area City Schools

Ashtabula County Tech Campus

Auburn Career Center

Aurora City Schools

Avon Lake City Schools

Avon Local Schools

Barberton City Schools

Bay Village City Schools

Beachwood City Schools

Beaumont School

Bedford City Schools

Bellevue City Schools

Berea City Schools

Bethel Christian Academy – Parma

Birchwood School

Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools

Broadmoor School

Brooklyn City Schools

Brown Aveda Mentor

Brown Aveda Strongsville

Buckeye Joint Vocational School District

Buckeye Local Schools, Ashtabula County

Buckeye Local Schools, Medina County

C.A.S.T.L.E High School Parma

Canton City Schools

Canton Harbor High School

Canton Local Schools

Cascade Career Prep

Central Christian School

Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools

Chapel Hill Christian North

Chapel Hill Christian South

Chardon Local Schools

Christian Community School

Citizens Academy Southeast

Citizens Leadership & Academy Glenville

Cleveland Arts & Social Sciences Academy

Cleveland Central Catholic High School

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Cleveland Montessori

Cloverleaf Local Schools

Communion of Saints

Constellation School Westpark Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Stockyard Community Middle

Constellation Schools Eastside Arts Academy

Constellation Schools Lorain Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Lorain Community Middle

Constellation Schools Madison Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Old Brooklyn Community Middle

Constellation Schools Old Brooklyn Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Parma Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Parma Community Middle

Constellation Schools Parma Community High School

Constellation Schools Parma Community Intermediate

Constellation Schools Puritas Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Puritas Community Middle

Constellation Schools Stockyard Community Elementary

Constellation Schools Westpark Comminity Middle

Constellation Schools Westside Community School of Arts

Constellation Schools Pearl Road Elementary

Cornerstone Christian Academy

Cornerstone Community School

Corpus Christi Academy

Coventry Local Schools

Crestline Exempted Village Schools

Crestwood Local Schools

Cuyahoga Community College campuses

Cuyahoga Falls City Schools

Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools

Cuyahoga Valley Career Center

Dale Roy School

East Cleveland Schools

ECEC-Shaker Heights

Edge Academy

Education Alternatives – Bedford

Education Alternatives – Painesville

Education Alternatives – Brook Park

Education Alternatives – Springfield

Education Alternatives – Cuyahoga Falls

Education Alternatives – Elyria

Education Alternatives – Ravenna

Education Alternatives – Willoughby

Elyria Catholic High School

ESC Passport School Program – Chesterland

Fairlawn Lutheran School

First Baptist Christian – Elyria

Footprints Center for Autism

Garfield Heights City Schools

Geneva Area City Schools

Gesu School

Gilmour Academy

Grand Valley Local Schools

GSCELC SCOPE Academy

Heritage Christian – Brooklyn

Heritage Classical – Peninsula campus

Heritage Classical – Pepper Pike

Hershey Montessori Concord Township

Hershey Montessori Huntsburg Township

Hiram College (opening at 11:30 a.m.)

Holy Cross Lutheran School

Holy Name Elementary

Holy Name High

Horizon Science Academy High School Cleveland

Horizon Science Academy Middle School Cleveland

Hudson City Schools

Imagine Bella Academy

Immaculate Heart-Cuyahoga Falls

Independence Local Schools

Innovation Academy West

Insigtful Minds

Intergenerational School

Invictus High School

iSTEM Geauga Early College High School

Julie Billiart School – Brecksville

Julie Billiart School – Akron

Julie Billiart School – Lyndhurst

Julie Billiart School – Westlake

Kenston Local Schools

Kent City Schools

Keystone Local Schools

Kingsway Christian School

Kent State University main campus (no in-person morning classes)

Lake Catholic High School

Lake Center Christian Schools

Lake Erie College

Lake Erie International High School

Lake Ridge Academy

Lakeland Community College (main campus opens at 10 a.m.)

Laurel School Butler Campus

Laurel School Lyman Campus

Lawrence School – Lower

Lawrence School – Upper

Lerner School

Lorain County Community College (opening four hours late)

Lutheran East High School East

Lutheran West High School

Madison Local Schools, Lake County

Maple Heights City Schools

Maplewood Career Center

Mayfair Christian School

Medina Christian Academy

Menlo Park Academy

Mentor Christian

Mentor Exempted Village Schools

Metro Catholic Parish Elementary

Midview Local Schools

Monarch School

Montessori Children’s School

Montessori School of Universty Heights

Near West Intergenerational School

New Life Christian Academy

Nordonia Hills City Schools

North Olmsted City Schools

North Royalton City Schools

Northside Christian Academy

Open Door Christian Schools

Orange City Schools

Orchard Park Academy

Orchard Park Academy Akron

Our Lady Mt. Carmel – Cleveland

Our Lady of Angels Elementary

Our Lady of Elms-All

Padua Franciscan High School

Painesville City Schools

Parma City Schools

Perry Local Schools, Lake County

Pinnacle Academy

Portage Lakes Career Center

Portage Learning Center Atwater

Portage Learning Center Ravenna

Portage Learning Centers All Centers

Portage Learning Center Kent

Portage Learning Center Streetsboro

Ramah Junior Academy

Redeemer Christian Elementary

Revere Local Schools

Richmond Heights Local Schools

Riverside Local Schools

Rocky River City Schools

Ruffing Montessori – Cleve Heights

Ruffing Montessori – Rocky River

Shaker Heights City Schools

South Suburban Montessori

St. Adalbert – Cleveland

St. Agatha-St Aloysius

St. Albert the Great Elementary

St. Anthony of Padua – Akron

St. Augustine – Barberton

St. Barnabas School

St. Benedict Catholic School

St. Bernadette School

St. Charles Borromeo School

St. Christopher Elementary

St. Columbkille Elementary

St. Edward High School

St. Francis of Assisi – Cleveland

St. Francis – Gates Mills

St. Helen School – Newbury

St. Ignatius High School

St. Ignatius of Antioch

St. Jerome Elementary

St. John Lutheran – Cleveland

St. Joseph Academy

St. Mark Catholic School

St. Mary Byzantine Elementary

St. Mary Elementary – Berea

St. Mary Elementary – Chardon

St. Mary Elementary – Elyria

St. Paschal Baylon Elementary

St. Patrick Elementary – Kent

St. Rita Elementary

St. Sebastian Elementary

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School

Stepstone Academy

Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools

Streetsboro City Schools

Strongsville City Schools

Sts. Robert and William Elementary

Summit Academy Elementary – Akron

Summit Academy – Akron Middle

Summit Academy – Akron Secondary

Tallmadge City Schools

The Golden Key School

The Lippman School

Trinity High School

Urban Community School

Urban Vision – Akron

Valley Christian Academy – Aurora

Vermilion Local Schools

Walsh Jesuit High School

Warrensville Heights City Schools

West Geauga Local Schools

Westside Christian Academy

Wickliffe City Schools

Wings Academy

As sub-zero temperatures continue to grip Northeast Ohio, businesses, schools, and public services are being forced to close their doors in order to keep employees and residents safe. With wind chills reaching dangerous levels, many organizations are opting to shut down operations until the weather improves.

School districts across the region are announcing closures due to the extreme cold, with administrators citing concerns for student safety as the primary reason. Many businesses are also choosing to close their doors, allowing employees to stay home and avoid the hazardous conditions outside.

Public transportation services, such as buses and trains, are experiencing delays and cancellations as they struggle to operate in the frigid temperatures. Residents are being urged to stay indoors and limit their time outside to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.

As the cold weather persists, it is important for Northeast Ohio residents to take precautions and stay informed about closures and safety advisories in their area. By staying informed and prepared, we can all weather this winter storm together.

Tags:
1. Sub-zero temperatures
2. Northeast Ohio
3. Closures
4. Extreme weather
5. Winter closures
6. Ohio weather
7. Cold snap
8. Emergency closures
9. Ohio winter weather
10. Northeast Ohio closures
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January 22, 2025
Kirk Herbstreit, who couldn’t hold back his emotions after Ohio State win, reveals his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer

Kirk Herbstreit wasn’t able to hold back his emotions after Ohio State won the national championship on Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the longtime ESPN college football analyst brought to tears while he was live on the air.

A day later, Herbstreit revealed there was more happening in his life that previously had not been shared widely.

“I haven’t really talked about this publicly, but Alli, my wife, faced some stuff,” Herbstreit said to Pat McAfee on his ESPN show on Tuesday. “It’s been a tough year for me behind the scenes.

“My wife got diagnosed with breast cancer. You know, (my dog) Ben dies. It was just a lot of emotion. And when you do what we do, you endure. You do your job.

“And I think what happened, I couldn’t predict it, but when (the Buckeyes) won, I was so happy … because of what they faced and all the stuff behind the scenes. It was like almost, I don’t know, maybe a release of all that pent-up stuff, and it just got the best of me.

“I’m an emotional guy in general, and when things touch my heart, I’m not good at talking when that happens.”

Herbstreit played quarterback at Ohio State from 1989-1992. After the Buckeyes’ win Monday night in Atlanta, he embraced his son, Zak, an Ohio State tight end.

He called his on-camera emotional moment on ESPN “almost like a perfect storm.”

“My son had heart failure two years ago,” Herbstreit said to McAfee. “They were talking about a heart replacement there for a while, and he had to medically retire.

“And (head coach) Ryan Day – I think the gratitude I have for Ryan Day putting his arms around Zak and keeping him involved, you know, he’s almost like a GA with what he was doing. And Ryan insisted on putting his arms around him, (offensive coordinator) Chip Kelly, all these guys.

“So there was that side of it looking down and seeing him in his jersey after, you know, potentially facing replacing your heart to that.”

When ESPN anchor Scott Van Pelt, who was on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, brought on Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, who were up in the broadcast booth, during the postgame show Monday, Herbstreit appeared to be trying to keep himself together.

“I’m a little emotional. I’m just fired up for these guys,” Herbstreit said. “You know, when I call these games, I’m incredibly objective. I love all these Ohio State teams. But this team, because what they went through, to get to this point, you’re just happy. You’re just happy for them.”

Herbstreit briefly went off camera and was back with a tissue. He dabbed at his eyes, visibly working to keep his composure.

“I talk to these players. I talk to these coaches. I know what they faced after that Michigan game. I know the pain, and I know that a lot of people thought, ‘To hell with this guy,’” Herbstreit said, referring to Day.

“I know what that did. That’s a real-life thing. To have to put that away … he just handled it, took the high road, didn’t say anything, went out and got his team ready to play four games, and they won it. And I think that’s why I’m emotional is what these guys faced.”

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In a heartfelt moment after Ohio State’s thrilling victory, Kirk Herbstreit opened up about a personal battle he and his family are facing. The beloved college football analyst revealed that his wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, leaving him emotional and vulnerable in the wake of the win.

Herbstreit, known for his passionate commentary and unwavering support of Ohio State, couldn’t hold back his emotions as he shared the news with viewers and fans. The revelation added a poignant layer to an already emotional night, as he dedicated the win to his wife and asked for thoughts and prayers from the college football community.

As Herbstreit navigates this difficult time with his family, his vulnerability and authenticity serve as a reminder of the human side of sports commentary. Despite his professional persona, he is facing a personal crisis with grace and courage, drawing support and empathy from fans and colleagues alike.

In a world where sports often take center stage, Herbstreit’s emotional revelation is a poignant reminder of what truly matters in life. As he continues to support his wife through her battle with cancer, we send our thoughts and prayers to the Herbstreit family during this challenging time.

Tags:

Kirk Herbstreit, Ohio State win, wife, breast cancer, emotions, diagnosis, support, family, football, ESPN, sports commentator

#Kirk #Herbstreit #couldnt #hold #emotions #Ohio #State #win #reveals #wife #diagnosed #breast #cancer

January 22, 2025
Would Ohio State DC Jim Knowles be interested in OU football opening?

Brent Venables is hard-wired for defense.

Ask the OU football coach about the Sooners‘ offense, the struggles on the line or the inconsistency at quarterback, and he is apt to take off on a tangent about the defense.

Bless his heart, that’s just how he is.

Defense, defense, defense.

Which leads us to an interesting question: Would Jim Knowles leave Ohio State to coach under Venables at OU?

Venables and the Sooners, as you know, are in the market for a new defensive coordinator. Zac Alley left for West Virginia after only one season as OU’s defensive coordinator, and one of the names that keeps popping up is Knowles.

It’d be a heck of a get for the Sooners.

Knowles is in his third season as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator after leaving one OSU for another, Oklahoma State to Ohio State, and as you’ve probably heard, things are going pretty well for Knowles. The Buckeyes will play for a national championship on Monday and his defense is the biggest reason why.

Ohio State has the top-ranked defense in all the land.

That OU would be interested in hiring Knowles is not shocking.

But Knowles taking the job?

Now, that would be shocking like a lightning bolt.

Totally unexpected.

‘He’s a genius’:How Jim Knowles became a mad scientist, torturing the Big 12 with Oklahoma State’s defense

It’s not that OU would be a bad landing spot. By all accounts, the Sooners have a defense able to go toe-to-toe with the behemoths of the SEC, ranking 31st nationally despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation this past season. They have the resources. The infrastructure. The tradition.

Then again, the same could be said of Ohio State.

OU does have one other thing: Venables.

He is the main reason the OU defense stands so proud nowadays. When he arrived three years ago, the unit was in shambles. Not good at much of anything other than costing the Sooners games.

Venables changed that, taking an extremely hands-on approach to recruiting, teaching, scheming, planning and playcalling.

And why wouldn’t he?

He knows how to build and run an elite defense. He did it for a decade at Clemson, and of course, he did it even longer at OU when he was Bob Stoops’ defensive coordinator. It would be foolish if Venables didn’t help with the OU defense.

But that might not be all that enticing to Knowles.

His last three bosses — David Cutcliffe at Duke, Mike Gundy at OSU and Ryan Day at Ohio State — have been offensive-minded head coaches. They might poke their head in a defensive meeting now and again, might offer a thought about a halftime adjustment, but they allowed Knowles to do what he does.

He has been king of his domain.

At OU, Knowles would be more in a power-sharing coalition. I don’t have a good sense of how much influence Venables has on the Sooner defense nowadays, though it stands to reason that it’s less now than it was three years ago. His coaches know what he wants, so he doesn’t have to be as hands-on as he once was.

But hands off?

No way.

Knowles would have to be willing to work with that.

And maybe he would be. But really, I can only see that happening under three scenarios.

More:OU football transfer portal tracker: Sooners land OSU’s Kendal Daniels

Could Jim Knowles leave Ohio State for Oklahoma?

1. Knowles believes the way he’s been doing things could be done even better with another defensive mastermind. This seems the least likely scenario because, hey, can he do much better than the top-ranked defense in the country?

2. Knowles would be compensated handsomely, enough to welcome/stomach/put up with Venables’ involvement. Knowles turns 60 later this year, and he’s only been a head coach once, leading FCS Cornell for six years. That means he never reaped the outsized financial benefits of being an FBS head coach.

He’s well compensated now, making $2.2 million at Ohio State, the third-highest-paid assistant in college football.

But what if OU offered $4 million?

That might sound like crazy money for an assistant, even if he is a coordinator, but that’s the kind of money that could sway a later-in-his-career coach who has never seen the big payday as a head coach.

3. There’s something beyond football that would pull Knowles to OU. This, dear reader, is where things get interesting.

Knowles recently got engaged to a woman who lives in Oklahoma. There are all sorts of pictures on the World Wide Web, and one of the sports folks at Oklahoman World Headquarters confirms the gal went to school in the Oklahoma City metro. He could confirm it because he went to school with her; isn’t this the biggest small town ever?

It’s anyone’s guess how all of this plays into Knowles’ thinking about OU, but seems unlikely that it will be a non-factor.

Still, in the end, the chance of Knowles leaving Ohio State for OU feels slim.

Impossible? No.

Likely? Definitely not.

And the irony is that the thing that feels like the biggest hurdle to Knowles being interested — Venables’ oversight and influence — is the reason OU is even an option at all. No way Knowles would even consider taking over the Sooner defense if it was in the same shape it was a few years ago. But its improvement should at least give Knowles cause to consider the job.

Venables’ fingerprints are all over the defense, but his hands are still on it, too. And when it comes to hiring Jim Knowles, that is a huge hurdle to overcome.

More:Kirk Herbstreit’s dogs are a dose of feel-good for college football and for our souls

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at 405-475-4125 or jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

As the Oklahoma Sooners are on the search for a new head coach following the departure of Lincoln Riley, many names have been thrown into the mix as potential candidates. One intriguing possibility is Ohio State’s defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Knowles has had a successful career as a defensive coach, turning around the Ohio State defense in just one season. His innovative schemes and aggressive play-calling have made a significant impact on the Buckeyes’ success this year.

With his proven track record and experience in the Big 12 conference, Knowles could be a strong candidate for the Oklahoma head coaching position. His ability to recruit top talent and develop players could be just what the Sooners need to continue their winning tradition.

It remains to be seen if Knowles would be interested in leaving Ohio State for the Oklahoma job, but his name is certainly one to watch as the coaching search continues. Oklahoma fans may have their fingers crossed that Knowles could be the one to lead their team to future success.

Tags:

Ohio State DC Jim Knowles, OU football opening, coaching rumors, college football news, coaching carousel, potential hires, Oklahoma football coaching search

#Ohio #State #Jim #Knowles #interested #football #opening

January 22, 2025

Purdue Basketball Preview: Game 20 — Ohio State

After a trip West, surging Purdue returns to West Lafayette, looking to extend its winning streak to eight games as it hosts Ohio State

A FEW THINGS ABOUT PURDUE

• Purdue’s won seven games in row, its last seven Big Ten games (taking into account Maryland in December) and is 6-0 since conference play resumed, with four road wins. At 7-1, Purdue’s in second place in the Big Ten behind unbeaten Michigan State, whose conference schedule is distinctly backloaded.

• The Boilermakers have surged to No. 21 nationally and second in the Big Ten on KenPom in defensive efficiency. Purdue hasn’t allowed more than 68 points since Auburn Dec. 21, and that 68 came vs. Nebraska in a game where the second half was a mere formality.

In a particularly dramatic turnaround, Purdue is No. 1 in the Big Ten in defensive turnover percentage, 21.2 percent.

• Trey Kaufman-Renn is Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in wins at Washington and Oregon.

• Purdue’s won 26 consecutive games in Mackey Arena, 14 straight Big Ten games.

• In Big Ten play, Braden Smith leads the league in assists (nine per game) and steals (2.5).

ABOUT THIS GAME

• Ohio State’s lost three in a row, but those losses have come by a combined five points, most recently an overtime loss to Indiana in Columbus.

On the road, Ohio State got obliterated at Maryland back in early December, then needed two overtimes to win at Minnesota.

• Ohio State has endured real offensive issues in Big Ten play …

Its conference-only Big Ten KenPom rankings …
Efficiency: 17th
Turnover percentage: 17th
Three-point percentage: 17th

In Big Ten play, the Buckeyes are shooting only 30 percent from three-point range. They’re averaging 75.1 points, but that includes three overtime sessions.

• Guard Bruce Thornton is one of the top players in the Big Ten, as the big-bodied veteran guard averages 17.4 points on the season, shooting 53 percent and 41 percent from three. The Buckeyes will try to iso him.

This is a very one-on-one-driven offensive team.

THREE KEYS FOR PURDUE

KEEP IT UP	KEEP REBOUNDING AS IS	FIRST HALF SHOOTING
It’s that simple. Purdue has been incredible on defense lately. The Buckeyes’ penchant for iso ball would seem to play right into the home team’s hands.	Purdue’s effort and concentration on the glass has been impeccable, covering up any trade-offs that come with playing small, if you still want to call it that. Caleb Furst is not ‘small.’	It’s been odd that Purdue has executed very well on offense in first halves, but just hasn’t finished inside or made threes enough to open games up. Does the home floor change things?

Purdue is rolling right now and returning to Mackey Arena shouldn’t slow its momentum. Could this be a game where its arduous travel schedule catches up with it? Yeah, maybe. But this is not a great offensive team coming in. Bruce Thornton is scary, but Purdue has thrived defensively keying on an individual scorer and Ohio State’s not a big ball movement team, and that’s how you beat a defense as connected as Purdue is right now.

As Purdue basketball gears up for their 20th game of the season, they will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in what is sure to be a highly anticipated matchup. The Boilermakers are coming off a strong win in their last game and will look to carry that momentum into this game against a tough conference opponent.

Ohio State has been a formidable opponent this season, boasting a talented roster and a strong record. However, Purdue has shown that they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the country, and they will be looking to prove that once again in this game.

Key players to watch in this matchup include Purdue’s leading scorer and rebounder, Trevion Williams, as well as Ohio State’s dynamic guard duo of E.J. Liddell and Malaki Branham. Both teams have the ability to light up the scoreboard and play stifling defense, making for an exciting and competitive game.

The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams as they jockey for position in the conference standings. Purdue will need to bring their A-game and execute their game plan to perfection in order to come out on top against a talented Ohio State team.

Be sure to tune in to this highly anticipated matchup and cheer on the Boilermakers as they look to secure another important win in their quest for a successful season. Let’s go Purdue!

Tags:

Purdue Basketball Preview
Game 20
Ohio State
Purdue vs Ohio State
College basketball
Big Ten conference
Basketball game preview
Purdue Boilermakers
Ohio State Buckeyes
NCAA basketball matchup

#Purdue #Basketball #Preview #Game #Ohio #State