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Ohio State didn’t make any splashy moves this week, but they did make a key decision. By hiring Robby Discher as its special teams coordinator, Ohio State addressed a part of the program that had lingered in limbo for two seasons. The Buckeyes had functioned without a full-time coordinator on special teams, a reality that showed up not in disasters, but in small, accumulating losses. Discher’s arrival from Illinois, where he served as both special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, signals a shift from tolerance to intent. On the hardwood, margins remain anything but quiet. Ohio State’s week captured the full spectrum of bubble life. The 84–78 win over Penn State was uncomfortable, uneven, and absolutely necessary, the type of result that keeps a season breathing without convincing anyone it’s healthy. The trip to Madison reinforced the concern. An early lead against Wisconsin dissolved into a 92–82 loss where defensive resistance never arrived. Offensively, the pieces were there. Bruce Thornton and Amare Bynum each scored 18, Devin Royal added 16, and Taison Chatman continued his upward trend with 14 points, marking back-to-back strong performances that offer real optimism. But John Mobley Jr.’s regression, nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, exposed how thin Ohio State’s margin remains when one of it’s most reliable scorers cools. The inability to get stops wasn’t situational. It was structural. That reality sharpens the week ahead. Thursday’s road trip to Maryland is a must-win by any reasonable definition. The Terrapins are 8–12 overall and 1–8 in the Big Ten, with their lone conference win coming against Penn State. Ohio State doesn’t need style points, but it cannot afford slippage. Especially not with Michigan looming. Sunday brings a 20–1 Michigan team to Columbus playing with momentum and confidence. Since the last Ohio State–Michigan meeting, the Wolverines have beaten top-10 Nebraska and top-20 Michigan State in East Lansing, with another test against Penn State ahead. On paper, it’s a mismatch. In context, it’s a pivot point. A win would not simply help Ohio State’s resume, it would reset the emotional and mathematical trajectory of the season. Football, meanwhile, offered a different kind of clarity through an early look at the offensive depth chart. Cole and Joey go through position by position on offense and talk about how they expect to start at each spot and what they grade each positon group. Across football and basketball, the pattern is the same. Ohio State isn’t searching for direction anymore. The fixes are being made, and the weaknesses are visible. The stakes are no longer abstract. What remains is whether those quiet decisions, and some of those loud tests, finally start to tilt the margins back in Ohio State’s favor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Wisconsin Badgers (-4.5) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes| over/under 156.5 Game Date/Time: Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 p.m. ETLocation: Madison, WisconsinTV: FOXRadio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Ohio State (14-6, 6-4) travels to Madison on Saturday afternoon to tangle with Wisconsin (15-6, 7-3) at the Kohl Center. The Buckeyes have struggled there in recent years, losing four out of its last five in Madison, with its lone win coming during the 2020-21 season when there were no fans in the arena. It’ll be a battle of two of the nation’s best backcourts — Bruce Thornton and John Mobley Jr. are currently scoring a combined 35.7 points per game, while Wisconsin’s John Blackwell and Nick Boyd are putting up 38.4 points per game together. Thornton is two points away from passing Michael Redd for sixth all-time on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list. As of Friday, sophomore guard Gabe Cupps and senior forward Christoph Tilly were both questionable for this game. Connor’s prediction: Wisconsin 78, Ohio State 74 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops. Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio On episode 188 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin are back to recap the Buckeyes loss in Ann Arbor against Michigan and win in Columbus over Penn State. We first talk about the Michigan and what happened in the second half to help Michigan pull away. How do the Buckeyes put together 40 minutes of basketball to compete with the top teams? After that, we discuss the win over Penn State. Are we concerned about letting an 18 point lead slip? Or is every win in the Big Ten a good win? To close the episode, we preview the upcoming Wisconsin game. Is this the biggest game of the season? Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning. Connect with the Podcast:Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN Connect with Connor:Twitter: @lemons_connor Connect with Justin:Twitter: @justin_golba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join hosts Justin Golba and Alex Frank as they discuss ⁠Ohio State⁠ football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones. Subscribe: ⁠RSS⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Google Podcasts⁠ | ⁠iHeart Radio For episode 55 of Hangout in the Holy Land, Justin and Alex are back and this week we have an offensive coordinator hire to talk about. Last week we talked about options the Buckeyes could hire and they went with former Falcons head coach and Titans and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. We give our thoughts and feelings on the hire. What does this mean for Ohio State’s offense? And what does this mean for Ryan Day? At the end of the episode, we discuss Ohio State’s recruiting class and some interesting tidbits about the 2026 class as a whole. With the season now over, we will be back with another episode next week and once a week in the offseason every Wednesday morning. Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! Connect with the podcast:Twitter: ⁠@HolyLandPod⁠ Connect with Justin Golba:Twitter: ⁠@justin_golba⁠ Connect with Alex Frank:Twitter: ⁠@frankie_nnati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

College football’s offseason rarely delivers clarity. This week, Ohio State got exactly that. The Buckeyes’ 2026 schedule release laid out a season that feels both familiar and unforgiving. A marquee early trip to Texas anchors September, while October brings road tests at Iowa and Indiana before a bye. November offers no relief, USC on the road, Oregon at home, a trip to Nebraska, and Michigan to close the regular season. There are no soft landings, only sequencing, and Ohio State now knows precisely where its margin for error lives. That clarity extends beyond dates. Ohio State opens the offseason tied with Notre Dame for the best national championship odds on FanDuel at +650, a reflection of both roster talent and quarterback optimism. Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin sitting among the top five Heisman odds underscores the expectation, this offense will drive the season’s ceiling. The biggest offseason shift came with the hiring of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. Ohio State now pairs two former NFL head coaches at coordinator spots, a rare alignment that signals a heavier professional influence across game planning and development. Smith’s role is notable not just for his resume, but for its structure. He does not count toward the 10 coach recruiting limit, leaving Ohio State flexibility to make one final strategic hire, a subtle but meaningful advantage as the staff takes shape. Recruiting momentum followed suit. Several 2026 commitments climbed significantly in national rankings, pushing Ohio State to five five stars on Rivals and a top four overall class nationally when transfers are included, per 247Sports. The class reflects balance more than flash, edge rushers, defensive backs, linebackers, and receivers, reinforcing a roster designed to sustain elite play rather than spike temporarily. On the court, Ohio State basketball continues to live in narrow margins. A loss at Michigan followed a familiar script. Competitive stretches, flashes of resistance, but a clear gap against one of the nation’s best teams. John Mobley’s scoring surge remained a constant, even as other offensive options struggled to find rhythm. The response mattered more. Monday’s win over Penn State was messy, tense, and essential, the kind of game bubble teams must survive to stay relevant. At 14–6, Ohio State remains firmly in the NCAA tournament conversation, hovering around the last teams receiving byes. Saturday’s trip to Wisconsin now looms as a defining Quad 1 opportunity, and one that could stabilize the profile or deepen the uncertainty. Across football and basketball, the theme is convergence. Expectations are no longer theoretical. The schedule is known. The staff is nearly set. The roster is fortified. For hoops, the math is tightening by the week. Ohio State isn’t guessing anymore. The next stretch, on the field and on the floor, will determine whether preparation turns into separation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Ohio State Buckeyes (-12.5) vs. Penn State Nittany Lions| over/under 154.5 Game Date/Time: Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. ETLocation: Columbus, OhioTV: FS1Radio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Weather permitting, Ohio State (13-6, 5-4) will return to the hardwood Monday night against Penn State (9-10, 0-8) after taking a tough loss on the road Friday night against rival Michigan. The Buckeyes had a 48-47 lead over the No. 3 Wolverines with 10:45 remaining in the game, but were overwhelmed by Michigan’s size and ultimately ran out of gas, losing by double-digits to the team up north. Penn State is riding a six-game losing streak, having lost each of their last two games by 20+ points. Dating back to last season, the Nittany Lions are 6-22 in their last 28 Big Ten games. As of early Monday morning, Franklin County was still under a Level 3 snow emergency, which means only emergency personnel and law enforcement are allowed on the roads. Penn State traveled to Columbus Saturday evening in anticipation of the storm. Connor’s prediction: Ohio State 88, Penn State 70 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Michigan Wolverines (-15.5) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes| over/under 162.5 Game Date/Time: Friday, January 23 at 8:00 p.m. ETLocation: Ann Arbor, MichiganTV: FOXRadio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Ohio State (13-5, 5-3) is looking to secure one of the biggest upsets in program history Friday night when they take on the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (17-1, 7-1) in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes have won three of their last four games and are two games over .500 in Big Ten play for the first time since January 2023. Michigan has been the most dominant team in the sport this year, winning eight games by at least 30 points this season. The Wolverines are No. 1 in KenPom, No. 1 in the NET rankings, and are the betting favorite to win the national championship. They lead the Big Ten in several offensive categories, including points per game and field goal percentage. Ohio State fans may see the debut of Puff Johnson Friday night. The 6-foot-8 forward who last played at Penn State was ruled eligible by a Franklin County court late last week. Johnson did not play in Ohio State’s wins over UCLA or Minnesota based on coaches’ decision. Connor’s prediction: Michigan 88, Ohio State 65 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops. Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio On episode 187 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin are back to talk about the Buckeyes two wins this week at home, one dominating win over UCLA and a much closer overtime win over Minnesota. What helped the Buckeyes have the best game of the season against UCLA? And how were they able to survive in a grind it out game against Minnesota? To close the episode, we preview the Buckeyes showdown on Friday night in Ann Arbor against the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines. Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning. Connect with the Podcast:Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN Connect with Connor:Twitter: @lemons_connor Connect with Justin:Twitter: @justin_golba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join hosts Justin Golba and Alex Frank as they discuss ⁠Ohio State⁠ football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones. Subscribe: ⁠RSS⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Google Podcasts⁠ | ⁠iHeart Radio On episode 54 of Hangout in the Holy Land, Justin and Alex are trying to find the next Ohio State offensive coordinator. We have eight different options, some reasonable and some out of the box, and we rank who we want the most to be the Buckeyes play caller next season. In addition to that, we discuss Ross Bjork’s transfer portal and NIL comments and more transfer portal additions this week to next season’s roster. With the season now over, we will be back with another episode of Hangout in the Holy Land next week and once a week in the offseason every Wednesday morning. Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! Connect with the podcast:Twitter: ⁠@HolyLandPod⁠ Connect with Justin Golba:Twitter: ⁠@justin_golba⁠ Connect with Alex Frank:Twitter: ⁠@frankie_nnati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Ohio State Buckeyes (-8.5) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers| over/under 144.5 Game Date/Time: Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. ETLocation: Columbus, OhioTV: BTNRadio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Ohio State (12-5, 4-3) welcomes a struggling Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-8, 3-4) team to the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday night for the team’s second home game in four days. After scoring 86 points on UCLA over the weekend, the Buckeyes will look to out-run a Minnesota team that is the slowest team in the conference in adjusted tempo (351st in the nation) and is 17th in the Big Ten in points per game (72.8). Minnesota has averaged 70.3 points per game during its three-game losing streak, although those three losses have come by an average of 4.7 points. Among the Gophers’ three Big Ten wins are ranked wins over Indiana and Iowa. This game will feature two of the Big Ten’s three best scorers — Bruce Thornton (20.5 PPG) and Cade Tyson (20.8 PPG). Thornton and Tyson are also tied for the lead in minutes per game this season at 36.4 per contest. Connor’s prediction: Ohio State 78, Minnesota 68 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

College football didn’t just crown a champion this week, it delivered a moment that still feels surreal. Indiana’s 27–21 win over Miami capped a storybook season under Curt Cignetti, punctuated by Mendoza’s unforgettable touchdown run and a late interception that felt inevitable. The setting only added to the disbelief, as Miami lost a national title game at home while Indiana fans overwhelmed the stadium. Ohio State now becomes part of that reality, traveling to Bloomington on October 17 next season for a matchup that already projects as one of the biggest games of the year. While the spotlight stayed on the playoff, Ohio State quietly finished assembling one of the nation’s most complete transfer classes. The Buckeyes now sit with the No. 3 overall incoming class for 2026 and the top-ranked transfer class in the Big Ten, addressing depth and flexibility across the roster rather than chasing quick fixes. The secondary received an SEC flavored overhaul with additions like Dominick Kelly, and Cam Calhoun, while James Smith and Qua Russaw bolster the defensive front. On offense, Ohio State added complementary pieces at wide receiver, tight end, and running back, and finally stabilized special teams with Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins, whose range and consistency immediately raise the floor. The takeaway from portal season is clear. Ohio State didn’t rush the process, but it closed strong, filled holes, and built insulation across the depth chart. On the hardwood, Ohio State basketball continued its steady climb. Wins over UCLA and Minnesota pushed the Buckeyes to 13–5 overall and 5–3 in Big Ten play, with John Mobley headlining both performances. The resume is quietly solid, defined by narrow losses and consistent competitiveness rather than blowout defeats. That progress now faces its sternest test. A trip to Ann Arbor to face No. 3 Michigan looms Friday, offering a measuring stick for a team that remains very much in the NCAA tournament picture. Across football and basketball, Ohio State isn’t chasing hype. It’s building momentum, and the next stretch will determine just how real it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before every Ohio State men’s basketball game, Connor Lemons gets you ready for that day’s action with key stats, players to know, and prevalent storylines for that day’s game on the “Good Hoops Morning” podcast. Listen to the episode and subscribe: Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Ohio State Buckeyes (-4.5) vs. UCLA Bruins| over/under 148.5 Game Date/Time: Saturday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m. ETLocation: Columbus, OhioTV: CBSRadio: 97.1 FM/ 971thefan.com Ohio State (11-5, 3-3) needs to pick up some wins at home over the coming weeks as January comes to a close, because February is going to be a gauntlet for the Buckeyes. That all starts on Saturday, as Jake Diebler’s Buckeyes welcome Mick Cronin’s UCLA Bruins (12-5, 4-2) to Columbus. Both Ohio State and UCLA have feasted on the bottom of the Big Ten so far this year, with neither team beating a fellow Big Ten team that’s in the top half of the conference standings. For Ohio State, Saturday’s game is a Quad-2 opportunity, for UCLA, it’s a Quad-1 game. Ohio State will be without senior forward Brandon Noel, while senior center Christoph Tilly will likely be listed as questionable after being treated for a head injury suffered last weekend at Washington. Ohio State’s newest player, former Penn State forward Puff Johnson, may be on the bench Saturday, but is not expected to suit up one day after being ruled eligible by a court in Franklin County. Following Saturday’s game, Ohio state will face Minnesota at home, Michigan on the road, and Penn State at home. UCLA will likely be without guard Skyy Clark, who averages 13.5 points per game and is sooting 48.6% from three this season, as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Connor’s prediction: UCLA 74, Ohio State 70 Connect with Connor: Twitter: @lemons_connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops. Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio On episode 186 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Connor and Justin are back to talk about the Buckeyes west coast trip, which included a win over an injured Oregon team and a missed opportunity at Washington. We talk about the takeaways from both games. Are John Mobley and Devin Royal doing enough? Is Ivan Njegovan becoming a capable backup center? Also, we discuss how bad is the Christoph Tilly injury and how should the Buckeyes handle the lineup moving forward? Also, we preview a huge home stand against UCLA and Minnesota. Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning. Connect with the Podcast:Twitter: @BucketheadsLGPN Connect with Connor:Twitter: @lemons_connor Connect with Justin:Twitter: @justin_golba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join hosts Justin Golba and Alex Frank as they discuss ⁠Ohio State⁠ football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones. Subscribe: ⁠RSS⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Google Podcasts⁠ | ⁠iHeart Radio On episode 53 of Hangout in the Holy Land, Justin and Alex are back to try and break down all of the transfer portal chaos. It has been a great week for Ohio State, bringing in some of its top targets and filling some huge positional needs. We discuss our favorite additions and some needs that still have to be addressed. Also, Max Klare is heading for the NFL draft and we preview the national championship. And Bo Jackson is back after rumors he was hitting the transfer portal. With the season now over, we will be back with another episode of Hangout in the Holy Land next week and once a week in the offseason every Wednesday morning. Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! Connect with the podcast:Twitter: ⁠@HolyLandPod⁠ Connect with Justin Golba:Twitter: ⁠@justin_golba⁠ Connect with Alex Frank:Twitter: ⁠@frankie_nnati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even without taking the field, Ohio State’s season moved in multiple directions this week. While the College Football Playoff delivered blowouts and revelations, the Buckeyes continued reshaping their roster through the transfer portal. Meanwhile, Ohio State basketball lived another week on the razor’s edge, flashing both tournament potential and familiar late-game frustration. The transfer portal continues to redraw Ohio State’s defensive identity. The headline addition is a proven ACC defensive back with all-conference credentials, a move that immediately stabilizes a secondary in flux. On offense, speed arrives at wide receiver, likely filling a depth role but adding an element this roster has lacked behind its top options. Linebacker depth was also addressed with a Big Ten transfer, signaling a desire for experience over projection. Just as important, Ohio State retained a key returner on offense despite persistent rumors, a quiet win in a cycle defined by exits as much as entries. Still, the misses sting. Several defensive targets landed with conference rivals, and a handful of Buckeyes followed familiar coaching pipelines elsewhere. The takeaway is not panic, but reality. This roster is improving at the margins, not flipping overnight. Development and internal growth will still decide the ceiling. The playoff picture clarified itself violently. One semifinal was over by halftime, a reminder of what elite execution looks like when all three phases align. Precision offense, mistake-free football, and relentless pressure left no room for debate. This is what championship-level football looks like when everything clicks. The other semifinal delivered drama instead. Late-game execution, star power, and composure under pressure defined the difference. The result is a national championship matchup that few predicted but feels earned. The lesson is unavoidable. Reputation does not survive January, only performance does. Ohio State basketball remains frustratingly relevant. A narrow loss against an undefeated opponent felt like a missed opportunity that could linger in March conversations. A strong road win followed, showing balance and resilience. Then another road loss arrived, fueled by defensive lapses and late-game breakdowns. The profile is what it is. A bubble team with metrics that justify belief, and results that invite skepticism. Nationally, the Buckeyes sit in the mid-to-late 30s in both KenPom and NET, almost identical to their next opponent. It is early, but it is not nothing. This team still controls its path, and whether it steadies or slips will define the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices