College Football 2020 Part III: Bucknuts on Sand Mountain

[WVRed]

Other one is almost at 1,000. Thread title is what our former Auburn resident referred to Bama as.

Carry on.

[WVRed]

Doc Holliday out at Marshall after winning coach of the year in C-USA.

[Boston Red]

Doc Holliday out at Marshall after winning coach of the year in C-USA.

In fairness, their last three games WERE a complete disaster.

[kaldaniels]

In fairness, their last three games WERE a complete disaster.

Sounds like the Gov’na may have been involved in the decision.

[WVRed]

Sounds like the Gov’na may have been involved in the decision.

I’m reading that too. Looks like Bob Pruett may be coming back.

[Boston Red]

I’m reading that too. Looks like Bob Pruett may be coming back.

Pruett was fantastic, obviously. But isn't he about 80 years old?

[WVRed]

Pruett was fantastic, obviously. But isn't he about 80 years old?


Pruett was fantastic, obviously. But isn't he about 80 years old?

https://wvmetronews.com/2021/01/04/doc-holliday-and-marshall-parting-ways/

77.

[Assembly Hall]

Other one is almost at 1,000. Thread title is what our former Auburn resident referred to Bama as.

Carry on.

LOL, was that jojo? Best of luck you Bucknut fans.

[schmidty622]

Twitter rumors that the National Title game will be postponed due to OSU Covid positives.

[RiverRat13]

Twitter rumors that the National Title game will be postponed due to OSU Covid positives.

Interesting. I know OSU had at least two more tests after Clemson stopped testing leading up to the game. Feels like that should be uniform for both teams.

[RiverRat13]

Rumors are the game will be played but OSU will be without all of their starting defensive linemen. Guys who haven't played all year will be in the DL rotation on Monday.

[RedTeamGo!]

Rumors are the game will be played but OSU will be without all of their starting defensive linemen. Guys who haven't played all year will be in the DL rotation on Monday.

That’s a loss if true. I would argue the DL is why they beat Clemson last week. Obviously Fields went off, but the DL really clamped down and started applying pressure. That could have easily ended up being a 56-49 game instead of 49-28. The OSU secondary was trash, the DL is what stopped Lawrence and Co.

The Bama OL is the best in the country. They will apply 0 pressure without the dogs up front. None. Game over before kickoff.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Just have to see who is really out. When OSU is at full strength they play 8 to 9 guys on the DL. If all those guys are out, yeah they are screwed. If it's half of those guys they are still ok, although not ideal.

[Boston Red]

So far the line has only moved one point to 8. Might grab a little Bama action at 8 in case the news gets worse for OSU.

[RedTeamGo!]

Just have to see who is really out. When OSU is at full strength they play 8 to 9 guys on the DL. If all those guys are out, yeah they are screwed. If it's half of those guys they are still ok, although not ideal.

If it’s Togaiai and Garrett I don’t see a path to V. I could be wrong, but man that would be brutal. Those two are the co-MVPs of the defense in my eyes.

[BuckeyeRed27]

If it’s Togaiai and Garrett I don’t see a path to V. I could be wrong, but man that would be brutal. Those two are the co-MVPs of the defense in my eyes.

If it's both, yeah that would stink. The rumor I've heard is that it's Togaiai and Smith that tested positive and everyone else is sitting out for now for contact tracing, but could play still.

Taron Vincent would fill in and he's a 5 star that has played a good amount and has done well this year. Cage and Jackson are next up, but that is a drop off for sure.

[Redsfaithful]

Ohio State should work on pushing the game back if that's the case. There's a backup date for a reason.

[kaldaniels]

If it's both, yeah that would stink. The rumor I've heard is that it's Togaiai and Smith that tested positive and everyone else is sitting out for now for contact tracing, but could play still.

Taron Vincent would fill in and he's a 5 star that has played a good amount and has done well this year. Cage and Jackson are next up, but that is a drop off for sure.

If that's it (just Togaiai and Smith) out and the rest of the DL can play it's fair to say the game should be played.

No promise things would look any better a week from now, for either team.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Ohio State should work on pushing the game back if that's the case. There's a backup date for a reason.

If it's the entire defensive line than, yes they should do something. But if it's just a couple players there really isn't a point, unless the Big 10 wants to change the 17 day rule again. Anyone that tested positive after the Clemson game wouldn't be eligible for the make up game and it just prolongs is so more people might test positive.

[Redsfaithful]

If it's the entire defensive line than, yes they should do something.

Yes, sorry, I didn't see the post before mine - I'm talking about if its the entire line.

[BuckeyeRed27]

If it’s Togaiai and Garrett I don’t see a path to V. I could be wrong, but man that would be brutal. Those two are the co-MVPs of the defense in my eyes.

Garrett was interviewed yesterday, which I doubt would be the case if he’s positive.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Ohio State flew to Miami yesterday and based on a lot of social media stalking by insane people online it seems like most of the team is there. Togiai and Smith haven’t been confirmed and have been rumored to be out all week. Couple other back ups don’t appear to be there. Guys like missed the Clemson game like Harrison and Teague appear to be back.

[adkindo]

Is it just me, or has ESPN and College Football did a horrible job promoting this game? I kind of forgot it was tomorrow.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Is it just me, or has ESPN and College Football did a horrible job promoting this game? I kind of forgot it was tomorrow.

It is not just you. I have a very vested interest in this game, but it has very little hype.

[Phoenix2]

Is it just me, or has ESPN and College Football did a horrible job promoting this game? I kind of forgot it was tomorrow.

I agree. Especially with two brands like Bama and OSU. Its almost NFL 247 these days...and other sports get crumbs.

[adkindo]

Yeah, I do not get it at all.....you have the biggest brand in the Midwest against the biggest brand in the South. The two biggest brand conferences. Two teams coming off very impressive wins. Two teams that have explosive running and passing games. Two of the biggest fan bases. It is probably one of the most popular matchup picks for ESPN before any season in regards to ratings. You have the modern GOAT coaching his team against the younger coach attempting to make his initial mark on a historical program. There are so many angles.....we even have one coaches daughter antagonizing the other team via social media.

[bucksfan2]

Yeah, I do not get it at all.....you have the biggest brand in the Midwest against the biggest brand in the South. The two biggest brand conferences. Two teams coming off very impressive wins. Two teams that have explosive running and passing games. Two of the biggest fan bases. It is probably one of the most popular matchup picks for ESPN before any season in regards to ratings. You have the modern GOAT coaching his team against the younger coach attempting to make his initial mark on a historical program. There are so many angles.....we even have one coaches daughter antagonizing the other team via social media.

College football is horrible when it comes to promoting their championship game. All season long the games are played on Saturday, playing the playoffs on NYD is a good idea since it has historically been "their day." However when they get the the championship game, they play on a Monday Night after half the country has gone to bed.

I get they don't want to go up against the NFL, but I can't help think a Friday night game or a Sat night game makes far more sense. If OSU isn't playing in the game (and I am not disgruntled) I may watch the first half of the game at the most.

FWIW they do the same thing with college basketball, the Final Four has more buzz than the finals.

[BuckeyeRed27]

To be fair, I do think the events that occurred in the real world last week probably have contributed to a little less buzz for the game. I’m sure the game will still have a big rating.

[Boston Red]

I don't think last week has anything to do with it. ESPN managed to promote the heck out of the NFL playoffs.

[Redsfaithful]

To be fair, I do think the events that occurred in the real world last week probably have contributed to a little less buzz for the game. I’m sure the game will still have a big rating.

I agree with this, oxygen was sucked out of the room.

I also agree that Monday night is dumb. I don't know what they could do with NFL owning the weekend, but it's always been lame.

[adkindo]

https://twitter.com/TomBraggSports/status/1348659400010067968

[bucksfan2]

I agree with this, oxygen was sucked out of the room.

I also agree that Monday night is dumb. I don't know what they could do with NFL owning the weekend, but it's always been lame.

Go Friday night. Or make a deal with the NFL to play on Saturday. Since ABC is broadcasting a game, allow them to go NFL at 4:00 and CFB at 8:00. Granted its all about money, but could you imagine Bama vs OSU going against Tampa Bay vs Washington? I mean WC weekend is fun, but some of the games just don't have much juice. Bama vs OSU probably would beat that TB vs Wash game, they probably would have beaten Chicago vs NO. And may have beaten Seattle vs. LAR seeing how that game was playing out.

[adkindo]

https://twitter.com/TomBraggSports/status/1348659400010067968

come on, nobody found it funny that after it was announced Big12 refs were doing the CFP Championship Game, dude projected that Kansas Basketball would be crowned champs?

[BuckeyeRed27]

Togiai and Smith out for OSU as had been expected. Also missing the starting kicker. Couple other backups. Importantly getting back Harrison and Friday who missed the Clemson games on the DL. Also Harry Miller on the OL is back. RB Master Teague also back.

[Phoenix2]

Togiai and Smith out for OSU as had been expected. Also missing the starting kicker. Couple other backups. Importantly getting back Harrison and Friday who missed the Clemson games on the DL. Also Harry Miller on the OL is back. RB Master Teague also back.

Need Harrison to have a huge game. Well pretty much everybody actually. But especially Harrison, Garrett and Wade.

[ScotlandRed]

Surely Waddle shouldn’t be playing? Doesn’t look healthy at all.

[Rojo Rijo]

Mac Jones is so overrated

[RedTeamGo!]

Trey Sermon hurt. Brutal.

[WVRed]

Trey Sermon hurt. Brutal.

Najee Harris looked hurt too

[WVRed]

Mac Jones is so overrated

He is but Bryce Young is going to be the real deal.

[WVRed]

Surely Waddle shouldn’t be playing? Doesn’t look healthy at all.

Saban catching a ton of heat on social media for playing him.

[adkindo]

if you watch the hit on Sermon, it probably is a broken collarbone because it appeared to be more of getting caught at impact between multiple players more than it did one player getting squared up contact

[adkindo]

huge fumble by Jones.....literally could be a game changer

[kaldaniels]

Trey Sermon hurt. Brutal.

Teague impressing so far with some tough runs up the middle.

[Roy Tucker]

Teague with a TD. 14-14 tie game.

[adkindo]

Devonta Smith is just a bad dude.

[WVRed]

Devonta Smith is just a bad dude.

I really want him on the Bengals almost as bad as I wanted Burrow.

[Roy Tucker]

If Alabama doesn’t turn the ball over, they score. Puts a lot of pressure on the OSU offense.

They have to get a few stops in here somewhere. Not happening yet.

[kaldaniels]

I really want him on the Bengals almost as bad as I wanted Burrow.

I just checked some mocks. Chase from LSU is going higher than Smith. Should that be the case?

[WVRed]

I just check some mocks. Chase from LSU is going higher than Smith. Should that be the case?

Chase is younger but sat out a year.

I like Smiths overall body of work compared to Chase’s one year plus Smith is clutch.

[WVRed]

If Alabama doesn’t turn the ball over, they score. Puts a lot of pressure on the OSU offense.

They have to get a few stops in here somewhere. Not happening yet.

Bama gets the ball back to start the second half. Ohio State needs to score here or it could be 28-14 before they get the ball back.

Edit: 9:00 til halftime, a lot can happen.

[Stray]

DeVonta Smith might be the best receiver I've ever watched in college football. Everyone around him looks so slow by comparison.

[adkindo]

DeVonta Smith on pace for 30 receptions and 400 yards

[Hillsdale87]

I just checked some mocks. Chase from LSU is going higher than Smith. Should that be the case?

They're both awesome, but Chase had basically the same season Smith is having, but as a 19 year old sophomore


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[Roy Tucker]

DeVonta Smith on pace for 30 receptions and 400 yards

Augh.

[RedTeamGo!]

I really want him on the Bengals almost as bad as I wanted Burrow.

No way am I spending an early first round pick on a dude that small.

Great college WR tho.

[adkindo]

he is gone

[WVRed]

No way am I spending an early first round pick on a dude that small.

Great college WR tho.

Someone is, and Chase is just as small.

[Roy Tucker]

Targeting big time. First and goal.

[ScotlandRed]

Someone is, and Chase is just as small.

Chase is like 40lbs heavier isn’t he?

[WVRed]

Chase is like 40lbs heavier isn’t he?

Maybe 30 but they are both 6’1

[RedTeamGo!]

Someone is, and Chase is just as small.

No he isn’t. Chase is 210, Smith is 175

[Hillsdale87]

That should have been 4 down territory. Don't like the FG


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[Roy Tucker]

Wade torched again.

[WVRed]

Haven’t seen a CB burnt like Shaun Wade has been since Leon Hall played for the Bengals.

[RedTeamGo!]

Yeah, Bama’s offense is too good and OSU’s defense is just not good enough to slow them down. Sucks Togiai is out.

[Stray]

His size does make you worry about durability, but he's electric. He's gonna make defenders look slow in the NFL too.

[RedTeamGo!]

Yeah, this game is over.

OSU needs to figure out what is wrong with their secondary if they want to compete with Bama moving forward.

[Roy Tucker]

I don’t know what, but the Buckeyes need to do something else on defense. Alabama having their way.

[Hillsdale87]

Kerry Coombs needs to make some adjustments. This is terrible. Bama is running the same stuff, and there have been no changes


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[RedTeamGo!]

About to be 35-17

[RedTeamGo!]

Kerry Coombs needs to make some adjustments. This is terrible. Bama is running the same stuff, and there have been no changes


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It’s personnel. OSU secondary sucks.

[Roy Tucker]

Jeez.

[WVRed]

About to be 35-17

Yep this game is over.

[adkindo]

I still have no idea why Clemson did not attack the Ohio State secondary more earlier in the game.....it is their weak link by a large margin.

[Stray]

Pretty sure there isn't a middle linebacker alive that can cover Smith.

[RedTeamGo!]

Well, it’s over, I’m just glad OSU smoked Clemson. Absolutely need to figure out what went wrong with the secondary this year and potentially replace Coombs. Good riddance to Shaun Wade.

[Hillsdale87]

It’s personnel. OSU secondary sucks.

That's part of it. But it shouldn't be this bad. Remember how bad the secondary looked when Schiano was DC? And then the same players were great last year. They've gone back to looking like they did in 2018. The scheme sucks


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[adkindo]

Yep this game is over.


Bama receives the ball after the half also....now it just feels like a game of finding out if Bama uses a punter this game. Dude has been on the sideline streaming Cobra Kai and getting a pedicure.

[WVRed]

I still have no idea why Clemson did not attack the Ohio State secondary more earlier in the game.....it is their weak link by a large margin.

Clemson didn’t have DeVonta Smith. That’s why.

[RedTeamGo!]

That's part of it. But it shouldn't be this bad. Remember how bad the secondary looked when Schiano was DC? And then the same players were great last year. They've gone back to looking like they did in 2018. The scheme sucks


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Oh yeah, Coombs needs to be replaced, won’t happen because he’s an amazing recruiter, but he’s awful.

[adkindo]

Some of it feels like the Clemson game was personal to Ohio State, and they kind of emptied the emotional tank to make a point in that game......and Alabama was basically just running out the clock against ND after halftime.

[RedTeamGo!]

Clemson didn’t have DeVonta Smith. That’s why.

Yeah, Clemson’s didn’t have the WR corps Bama has. This game was over before it started.

- - - Updated - - -


Some of it feels like the Clemson game was personal to Ohio State, and they kind of emptied the emotional tank to make a point in that game......and Alabama was basically just running out the clock against ND after halftime.

Doesn’t help that OSU’s best defensive player is out with COVID tonight and their star RB broke his collarbone on the first play of the game, but this was always going to be a Bama win after seeing how good these WRs are.

[adkindo]

Clemson didn’t have DeVonta Smith. That’s why.

Devonta Smith is the best in the college game, but other teams had success against this secondary....and Clemson definitely should have had the weapons to do it. Clemson had success often when they challenged the secondary early but just kept trying to establish a running game. Nobody is going to run over this Ohio State defensive front. Then once Clemson was forced to pass later in the game, Ohio State was not even worried about the run and dropped additional people in coverage.

[Roy Tucker]

Alabama is just torching the Bucks secondary. Smith has 12 catches, 215 yards, and 3 TDs. Ugh. In the first half. Augh.

[RedTeamGo!]

Why the **** did OSU just run up the middle two plays in a row with their 4th string RB? Do you think Bama is going to take a knee and go into half? It’s about to be 42-17.

[WVRed]

Yeah, Clemson’s didn’t have the WR corps Bama has. This game was over before it started.

- - - Updated - - -



Doesn’t help that OSU’s best defensive player is out with COVID tonight and their star RB broke his collarbone on the first play of the game, but this was always going to be a Bama win after seeing how good these WRs are.

I think Day should have went for it on 4th instead of taking the points with the FG. You might not make it but if you do and get in the end zone it’s still a shootout. Can’t trade FGs for TDs against Bama.

[adkindo]

btw, I am not suggesting that Clemson would have won if they went deep more early....just think it was the better option compared to running against this Ohio State box

[WVRed]

Imagine being a Buckeye and Steeler fan this weekend.

[adkindo]

Ohio State defense got confused when they saw a punter and hit him

[KronoRed]

I think Day should have went for it on 4th instead of taking the points with the FG. You might not make it but if you do and get in the end zone it’s still a shootout. Can’t trade FGs for TDs against Bama.

To beat these guys you need to score a TD every time you are on the field, any 4th down of a reasonable distance should be an automatic go.

[WVRed]

Alabama is just torching the Bucks secondary. Smith has 12 catches, 215 yards, and 3 TDs. Ugh. In the first half. Augh.

And Ohio State has 191 yards by comparison.


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[adkindo]

Imagine being a Buckeye and Steeler fan this weekend.

Buckeye fans should take some comfort in knowing this is really the only college team on the planet that could do this against them....nobody else in the playoff conversation was better than Ohio State in my opinion after watching the Semi's

[RedTeamGo!]

Saban has broken college football. OSU probably matches up against them better than any team in the country and this isn’t even a contest.

[RiverRat13]

Bama had a handful of guys who could have went pro come back. It's not surprising they are this dominant.

[WVRed]

To beat these guys you need to score a TD every time you are on the field, any 4th down of a reasonable distance should be an automatic go.

Those of us who follow the SEC know that their best weapon is holding a clipboard currently.

Bama isn’t going anywhere in the near future. Ohio State will need a QB next year and Clemson will be back as well.

[kaldaniels]

Yeah at least this isn’t an “OSU doesn’t belong” situation. That would worry me with recruiting.

This is a “Bama is that good” situation.

[adkindo]

Saban has broken college football. OSU probably matches up against them better than any team in the country and this isn’t even a contest.

I think it will help the teams outside the 5-7 elite programs if they pass the 1x transfer without sitting out a year....I can see a lot of Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, etc.'s blue chip recruits that are backups transferring out to Top 30 programs....and it will close the gap a little.

[WVRed]

Saban has broken college football. OSU probably matches up against them better than any team in the country and this isn’t even a contest.

Doesn’t Ohio State have the top rated recruit coming in three years in a row?

No offense but an Ohio State fan saying that is like me as a UK fan saying Coach K has broken college basketball.

[kaldaniels]

Doesn’t Ohio State have the top rated recruit coming in three years in a row?

No offense but an Ohio State fan saying that is like me as a UK fan saying Coach K has broken college basketball.

Yeah, it’s not an excuse for losing but OSU is down 2 DL and Sermon, and Fields is playing in pain.

Full strength OSU and full strength Bama wouldn’t always be an automatic Bama win IMO. Tough luck for OSU.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Well other than basically everything going wrong that went well.

Buckeyes just can’t get any pressure at all and Sark is pitching a perfect game right now.

OSU has just missed stuff on offense like the Wilson TD throw, that Teague screen, couple other plays, that you just can’t in a game like this.

If the Buckeyes can get a stop and a score we might have a fight, but Day would need to have the best half time speech since Al Pacino.

[Rojo Rijo]

Smith is fantastic but my goodness the play designs for him are top notch.

[RedTeamGo!]

Doesn’t Ohio State have the top rated recruit coming in three years in a row?

No offense but an Ohio State fan saying that is like me as a UK fan saying Coach K has broken college basketball.

Bama has #1 class in 2021

Basketball is an entirely different animal.

[adkindo]

Ohio State really does not have that Zeke or Dobbins type RB this year.....nor do they have that 1st Round lock WR they usually have.....do not have that Chase Young/Bosa type edge rusher...and it does not have that 1st Round CB on one side and a 2nd-3rd Round guy on the other side....and they still are in the Championship game.

[kaldaniels]

I thought Fields had a very good shot at a NC before he left.

It’s a damn shame that hit from Clemson has rendered him useless, for lack of a better term, in the title game.

He’s giving it his all.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Ohio State really does not have that Zeke or Dobbins type RB this year.....nor do they have that 1st Round lock WR they usually have.....do not have that Chase Young/Bosa type edge rusher...and it does not have that 1st Round CB on one side and a 2nd-3rd Round guy on the other side....and they still are in the Championship game.

Well Sermon was doing a pretty good Zeke/Dobbins impression. Losing him on the first play was a real gut punch.

[WVRed]

Ohio State really does not have that Zeke or Dobbins type RB this year.....nor do they have that 1st Round lock WR they usually have.....do not have that Chase Young/Bose type edge rusher...and it does not have that 1st Round CB on one side and a 2nd-3rd Round guy on the other side....and they still are in the Championship game.

Sermon is hurt

Olave is a first rounder

Agree on replacing Chase Young

Shaun Wade is that corner and Buckeye fans have complained about him all year. Now I see why.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I thought Fields had a very good shot at a NC before he left.

It’s a damn shame that hit from Clemson has rendered him useless, for lack of a better term, in the title game.

He’s giving it his all.

Yeah Fields not being a real run threat here sucks. Bama knows he isn’t going to try and Day isn’t really even calling those RPO plays. I don’t think he’s been bad or anything he’s just not lethal like he can be.

[kaldaniels]

Defense - run a “Don’t Let Devonta Beat You” scheme in the second half and let the chips fall where they may.

(If that’s even possible)

[BuckeyeRed27]

Defense - run a “Don’t Let Devonta Beat You” scheme in the second half and let the chips fall where they may.

(If that’s even possible)

It’s not. It never was. Only hope here is to get pressure on Jones. I’m not sure he’s been hit.

[adkindo]

I think Ohio State is still reeling from allowing Rylee Martell's brother to transfer.....you do what it takes to get a female like that on campus, even if it cost you a few games.

[adkindo]

Shaun Wade is that corner and Buckeye fans have complained about him all year. Now I see why.

he was that guy last season....if he does not play this year as he initially announced, probably a 1st Round pick....but he just has not been great this season.

[WVRed]

he was that guy last season....if he does not play this year as he initially announced, probably a 1st Round pick....but he just has not been great this season.

Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette were those guys last year. Both went first round.

[BuckeyeRed27]

he was that guy last season....if he does not play this year as he initially announced, probably a 1st Round pick....but he just has not been great this season.

He played slot corner and was excellent at that. He’s moved outside and that’s just not his strength.

[kaldaniels]

Dislocated finger?

[adkindo]

Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette were those guys last year. Both went first round.

he was a nickel last season and was excellent.....he was part of an elite secondary

[kaldaniels]

he was a nickel last season and was excellent.....he was part of an elite secondary

He’s not and never will be the man.

[adkindo]

He played slot corner and was excellent at that. He’s moved outside and that’s just not his strength.

good thing for him is every NFL team in 2020 needs 3 starting coverage defensive backs

[Roy Tucker]

Alabama is just having their way. OSU DBs are having a time of it tonight.

[Hillsdale87]

These slants are way too easy


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[WVRed]

Alabama is just having their way. OSU DBs are having a time of it tonight.


And this entire drive has been without DeVonta Smith.


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[adkindo]

that was a pro level breakup by Wade

[kaldaniels]

Drive took half the quarter.

[kaldaniels]

With Smith’s status unknown, this is it. Need a touchdown.

[Hillsdale87]

OSU is not playing well, but these Bama guys are insane. Harris is incredible. Impossible to bring down one on one, but also a very good receiver.

Saban/Sark are outcoaching Day, but they also just have better players


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[BuckeyeRed27]

With Smith’s status unknown, this is it. Need a touchdown.

OSU will need a TD every time they have it. What they need is stops. Alabama with this 15 play paper cut offense is brutal.

[kaldaniels]

OSU will need a TD every time they have it. What they need is stops. Alabama with this 15 play paper cut offense is brutal.

If Smith is out and Waddle is gimpy, maybe Coombs can catch his breath and miraculously make the right adjustment.

[adkindo]

not completely dead yet

[kaldaniels]

14 point game in the 3rd after the shellacking that has occurred...I guess I’ll take it.

Do you believe in miracles?

[Roy Tucker]

I wish they hadn’t taken their foot off the gas pedal the last 7 minutes of the 2nd quarter. They had to match Alabama score for score and they essentially gave up.

TD Buckeyes. I don’t have much hope though. Just make it respectable boys.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Get. A. Stop. Please.

[adkindo]

Drive took half the quarter.

I have noticed that....they are having long drives and eating up a lot of clock

[Roy Tucker]

Buckeyes need pressure on Jones. For such a great half, I think he’s the weak link of the offense. He just has such phenomenal weapons to get the ball to. Plus an outstanding OL to protect him.

[adkindo]

I love how they added onto this stadium with the partial enclosure that protects the fans from the sun and most rain.....but leaves it mostly open at the top.

[Hillsdale87]

Playing off coverage on Waddle when he can barely walk is ridiculous


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[kaldaniels]

Not a pro caliber play by Wade.

[adkindo]

that play will not make pro scouts happy as it relates to Wade

[kaldaniels]

that play will not make pro scouts happy as it relates to Wade

He’s played so poorly this year, despite some arguing otherwise, I think he’s out of the first round. I mean teams watch the film.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Alabama just getting 5-8 yards every single play. Can’t stop it.

[RedTeamGo!]

Shaun Wade is absolutely awful. His decrease in quality play will forever be one of the biggest mysteries in sports to me. I mean, he’s just absolutely terrible. If he gets drafted in the first 4 rounds it will be a bad pick.

[kaldaniels]

4 straight runs?

[Roy Tucker]

Teague needs better awareness than that. Get the first down.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Shaun Wade is absolutely awful. His decrease in quality play will forever be one of the biggest mysteries in sports to me. I mean, he’s just absolutely terrible. If he gets drafted in the first 4 rounds it will be a bad pick.

He’s out of position, but I don’t think the effort was always there. Thinking too much about the draft and not the game. Happens to college guys.

[RedTeamGo!]

Ryan Day runs 4 straight runs lollllll

- - - Updated - - -

Ryan Day is looking like an absolute idiot in front of the country. Jesus.

[RedTeamGo!]

What an absolute embarrassment this game is. If you are a recruit why would you choose OSU over Bama after watching this? This is men against boys.

[kaldaniels]

What an absolute embarrassment this game is. If you are a recruit why would you choose OSU over Bama after watching this? This is men against boys.

Cause Bama has 3 guys better than you at your position?

All I got.

[kaldaniels]

Lot of air under Fields’ throws.

[Hillsdale87]

Ryan Day runs 4 straight runs lollllll

- - - Updated - - -

Ryan Day is looking like an absolute idiot in front of the country. Jesus.

It's a bit similar to the Clemson game last year. Day came out firing early, but then he turtled a bit and ended up making a number of weak decisions, which he was kicking himself for after. The moment may be a bit big for him at the moment. Ultimately, he made the championship in his second season, so it's hard to complain too much, but hopefully he learns from this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adkindo]

What an absolute embarrassment this game is. If you are a recruit why would you choose OSU over Bama after watching this? This is men against boys.

for the record, I often wonder why any lower 4 star recruit or below would ever choose Alabama or Ohio State....but many do. WVU sends players to the NFL every year....so does Ole Miss and NC State. If you are good enough to get to the league, you can get there from almost any school....but it is much more difficult from the bench.

[kaldaniels]

I think Fields and Olave will have nice NFL careers.

[RedTeamGo!]

for the record, I often wonder why any lower 4 star recruit or below would ever choose Alabama or Ohio State....but many do. WVU sends players to the NFL every year....so does Ole Miss and NC State. If you are good enough to get to the league, you can get there from almost any school....but it is much more difficult from the bench.

Yep, there’s a kid from my high school on OSU, a linebacker. Dallas Gant. He was a high 4 star. He’s a junior and only plays special teams. If he had gone to a Purdue, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Indiana, whatever would have likely been a 4 year starter. Why go to OSU? So bizarre.

Julian Fleming was the best WR recruit in the country last year. Looks like a bust. That has to be caught.

[kaldaniels]

for the record, I often wonder why any lower 4 star recruit or below would ever choose Alabama or Ohio State....but many do. WVU sends players to the NFL every year....so does Ole Miss and NC State. If you are good enough to get to the league, you can get there from almost any school....but it is much more difficult from the bench.

To be fair, counterpoint.

Mac Jones was not a huge recruit. And now he is a king for life.

He’ll get drafted, but I don’t expect much.

[Boston Red]

Ok Buckeyes, let's get a TD here for that second half cover!

[Roy Tucker]

If you’re good at Ohio State, you’ll play. They are a premier football school. I don’t get the badmouthing. Alabama is just that good.

[RiverRat13]

Yep, there’s a kid from my high school on OSU, a linebacker. Dallas Gant. He was a high 4 star. He’s a junior and only plays special teams. If he had gone to a Purdue, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Indiana, whatever would have likely been a 4 year starter. Why go to OSU? So bizarre.

Julian Fleming was the best WR recruit in the country last year. Looks like a bust. That has to be caught.You are calling a true freshmen a bust already? Might be time to step away from the keyboard for the night.

[RedTeamGo!]

You are calling a true freshmen a bust already? Might be time to step away from the keyboard for the night.

He’s been terrible all year. Was the best WR in the nation. Looks terrible.

[kaldaniels]

I never saw Bryant, but you’ll have to show your work to convince me that Saban isn’t the best ever. Dominance in this data-driven competitive day and age is ridiculous.

[Boston Red]

Special teams in the national championship game or 4 year starter on a pretty mediocre team? I could go either way on that one.

[Roy Tucker]

I think I’ve told this story before. My sister used to live up in Cleveland and in the same neighborhood as Nick Saban when Saban was an assistant coach for the Browns. Her youngest Brandon was good friends with Saban’s son Nicholas. But Brandon had zero interest in any kind of sports and had no idea who Saban was or who the Browns were. He met all these Browns at the time (Bernie Kosar, etc), hung out in the Browns locker room, but didn’t care at all. It just floored my late brother in law Pat. He played football at Centerville, played a couple years at UD, and was a huge football fan.

[BuckeyeRed27]

He’s been terrible all year. Was the best WR in the nation. Looks terrible.

Dude relax. This was a disappointing game, I get it. But just chill.

[kaldaniels]

Did I hear correctly that Bama didn’t have a player test positive for COVID during the season?

If so maybe that’s a question for another day.

[kaldaniels]

I think I’ve told this story before. My sister used to live up in Cleveland and in the same neighborhood as Nick Saban when Saban was an assistant coach for the Browns. Her youngest Brandon was good friends with Saban’s son Nicholas. But Brandon had zero interest in any kind of sports and had no idea who Saban was or who the Browns were. He met all these Browns at the time (Bernie Kosar, etc), hung out in the Browns locker room, but didn’t care at all. It just floored my late brother in law Pat. He played football at Centerville, played a couple years at UD, and was a huge football fan.

Saban and Belichick on the same staff and the Browns screw it up.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Did I hear correctly that Bama didn’t have a player test positive for COVID during the season?

If so maybe that’s a question for another day.

Yeah they smartly, if maybe ethically questionably, knocked that out over the summer,

[Roy Tucker]

Northwestern was the same zero COVID cases.

[kaldaniels]

Yeah they smartly, if maybe ethically questionably, knocked that out over the summer,

Real talk.

That’s a great conspiracy theory but do we really think that happened? Curious.

[RedTeamGo!]

Dude relax. This was a disappointing game, I get it. But just chill.

I am relaxed and it’s not because of this game. I’ve watched Fleming closely all year. He has been awful all season. #1 WR recruit in the country.

[Reds Freak]

Real talk.

That’s a great conspiracy theory but do we really think that happened? Curious.

Saban tested positive at some point during the season, didn't he?

[kaldaniels]

Saban tested positive at some point during the season, didn't he?

Yeah but the group mentioned was “players.”

- - - Updated - - -


I am relaxed and it’s not because of this game. I’ve watched Fleming closely all year. He has been awful all season. #1 WR recruit in the country.

I can’t say I know - has he played a lot?

[Roy Tucker]

Alabama was just the better team by far tonight. If the Buckeyes were at full strength, I think they would have given them a better ballgame. But I don’t think they would have won even then. Alabama was too fast, too strong, too deep, too well coached, and played excellently.

[kaldaniels]

Alabama was just the better team by far tonight. If the Buckeyes were at full strength, I think they would have given them a better ballgame. But I don’t think they would have won even then. Alabama was too fast, too strong, too deep, too well coached, and played excellently.

Talk on Twitter saying this was Saban’s best team. (It’s his first undefeated since 2009)

Hard to argue.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I am relaxed and it’s not because of this game. I’ve watched Fleming closely all year. He has been awful all season. #1 WR recruit in the country.

I responded to that post but just in general. We buzz sawed Clemson a week ago and you’re out here wondering why anyone would come play here. We played a bad game against an all time good team. It happens.

Fleming has been good on special teams and has become a really good blocker. He’s going to be a total stud. That play at the end of the game wasn’t even on him that was on Fields.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Talk on Twitter saying this was Saban’s best team. (It’s his first undefeated since 2009)

Hard to argue.

Meh I don’t know about that. Harris and Smith together at the top is pretty great, but Bama has had some deeper, stronger teams than this one. This is a really great team, not taking away from them.

[kaldaniels]

Meh I don’t know about that. Harris and Smith together at the top is pretty great, but Bama has had some deeper, stronger teams than this one. This is a really great team, not taking away from them.

I’d have to go back through the seasons but going undefeated is a pretty big feather in the cap.

[*BaseClogger*]

I’d have to go back through the seasons but going undefeated is a pretty big feather in the cap.

SEC was way down in 2020 compared to where it was earlier in Saban’s run, so not sure it’s much of a feather...

[GAC]

SEC was way down in 2020 compared to where it was earlier in Saban’s run, so not sure it’s much of a feather...

I think all the conferences were way down, knocked down a notch this year, due to covid and the environment promoted. I give 'Bama credit for what they accomplished, and made it look quite easy this year.

Losing starters on the defensive line (DT Togiai, DE Smith) was evident as 'Bama controlled the LOS. But losing RB Sermon early to injury hurt this offense the most. They lost a valuable weapon there.

But OSU has to address their secondary. I'm just glad Shaun Wade will be gone (lol)

[RiverRat13]

But OSU has to address their secondary. I'm just glad Shaun Wade will be gone (lol)

Wade is a very good safety/slot corner. He's not an outside corner. He would be a good third round pick but the idea of him holding up on the outside is over.

[GAC]

Wade is a very good safety/slot corner. He's not an outside corner. He would be a good third round pick but the idea of him holding up on the outside is over.

Mel Kiper, whom I don't listen to, projects him as a late 1st round.

[WVRed]

Mel Kiper, whom I don't listen to, projects him as a late 1st round.

McShay has him going 13th to the Chargers.

[WVRed]

I am relaxed and it’s not because of this game. I’ve watched Fleming closely all year. He has been awful all season. #1 WR recruit in the country.

The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores.

[RedTeamGo!]

Mel Kiper, whom I don't listen to, projects him as a late 1st round.

Mel Kiper is very wrong on this one.

[Phoenix2]

Maybe its a natural reflex for many to want to blame the coaching or poor player performances. But from what I saw Bama was outstanding- great talent and well coached. Getting beat by them is nothing to be embarrassed about.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Maybe its a natural reflex for many to want to blame the coaching or poor player performances. But from what I saw Bama was outstanding- great talent and well coached. Getting beat by them is nothing to be embarrassed about.

There's nothing wrong or bad about losing to Alabama in the last game of the season, particularly if you go out and give it your best. That's the disappointing part, is that OSU didn't really give it their best. Part of that is because of Alabama making it difficult, but even then just felt like a lot of missed opportunities throughout the game.

[RedTeamGo!]

Maybe its a natural reflex for many to want to blame the coaching or poor player performances. But from what I saw Bama was outstanding- great talent and well coached. Getting beat by them is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Nah, that was embarrassing

[BuckeyeRed27]

I'm just surprised that the Alabama game plan worked. If you told me that they scored 52, but they hit a bunch of home runs over the top and Harris broke a long run, ok sure I can see that. But just all the sustained drives, and third down conversions, and just getting 4-8 yards with basically no resistance...yuck.

[jwdoc77]

There's nothing wrong or bad about losing to Alabama in the last game of the season, particularly if you go out and give it your best. That's the disappointing part, is that OSU didn't really give it their best. Part of that is because of Alabama making it difficult, but even then just felt like a lot of missed opportunities throughout the game.

Fields was hurt...it was obvious he wasnt throwing a good ball. Sermon gets hurt....Teague gets hurt. We are down to essentially our 4th string running back in Crowley. Wyatt Davis Goes down. Dawand Jones out for COVID. Tommy Togiai and Tyreke Smith out for COVID. They werent able to play their best because half their best players werent able to play.

[Boston Red]

I was looking at the ESPN early top 25 this morning, and it mentions UC at #10 and the fact that they have road games at Notre Dame and Indiana next year. Well, if a G5 team is ever going to get into the playoffs, there's your shot. High starting ranking, plus a chance at some high profile road wins against prominent (odd to say that about IU but true next year) opponents that should be highly ranked. And while those are going to be good teams, they're not impossible games like going to Ohio State, Alabama or Clemson. Granted, Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma could all go undefeated and make it a moot point, but things set up as well as possible for UC next year if they're really an elite team.

[Hillsdale87]

Maybe its a natural reflex for many to want to blame the coaching or poor player performances. But from what I saw Bama was outstanding- great talent and well coached. Getting beat by them is nothing to be embarrassed about.

I agree with this. It was a really disappointing game, but I don't think especially embarrassing. I thought going in that OSU could play with them, and they did for a while, but Bama was just much better. I think OSU at full strength would have made it more competitive. Losing your star RB on the first play when he's a significant part of the gameplan is brutal. But even at full strength I don't think OSU could have won that game.

Bama had better players and better coaching. I think this is probably one of the best college teams of all time. They had a bunch of guys who could have gotten drafted high last year return, and they were loaded. It's not shocking that Saban would outcoach Day in just his second season, and hopefully it's something Day can learn from. I think Day is a great coach, but there was some very questionable play calling last night. Seemed like the moment was maybe a bit big for him, but he'll get there. We knew this team had some big flaws, especially the secondary, and that was magnified in this game. Day needs to take a serious look at the defensive scheme for next year, because the play this year was unacceptable. A bad loss like this sucks, but it should be motivating and definitely gives them a target to shoot for.

[RedTeamGo!]

I'm just surprised that the Alabama game plan worked. If you told me that they scored 52, but they hit a bunch of home runs over the top and Harris broke a long run, ok sure I can see that. But just all the sustained drives, and third down conversions, and just getting 4-8 yards with basically no resistance...yuck.

They knew they didn’t have to hit home runs. They saw Kerry Coombs on the other sideline, a horrendous secondary, and a defensive front missing its best player and solid DE. They saw that and knew they could just pick up 4-8 yard plays at will and score whenever they wanted. That game was over before the coin toss. When the opposing team is going for it on 4th and more than 1 every single time early in a game they have absolutely no respect for your defense. None. And OSU showed their defense should not be respected. People are arguing if it’s scheme or personnel. It was both.

Coombs - great recruiter, awful coach

DE Zach Harrison - bust
DT - Togiai - out, replacement was a complete nothing
DT - Garret - solid player, not good enough against Bama
DE Tyreke Smith - out, replacement was a complete nothing
LB - Browning - made one great play, otherwise a complete nothing. His OSU career in a nutshell. Bust.
LB - Werner - solid player, good tackler
LB - Borland - good against mediocre teams, a complete liability against Bama. Not his fault he somehow ended up trying to cover Smith. Scheme.
CB - Wade. Good slot CB, horrendous outside CB. Cost himself millions of dollars coming back this year and I feel bad for he and his family for making such a bad decision.
CB - Banks - Not a starting caliber CB at this level
S - Williamson - this guy is bad. The only time you hear his name called is when he makes a tackle after a 25 yard completion by opposing team.
S - Proctor - mediocre. Horrible hands.

That’s about it. Zach Harrison is what hurts the most. He is a complete and utter bust. Was a top 10 recruit in the country. He is just a complete nothing out there. I hope Sawyer comes in and takes the starting role from him immediately because I don’t want to watch Harrison line up every down next year and not sniff the QB or RB in the backfield.

The DBs - I don’t fully blame this on Coombs. Grinch and Taver Johnson set this secondary unit back a few years. It shows how important it is to not have missed classes is at this level and OSU had two in a row. What’s scary about the secondary is that next year could easily be worse. We are basically relying on Sevyn Banks again, who sucks, and wishing and praying Lejond Cavazos and Cam Martinez show up and turn heads. If those two aren’t anything the Buckeye secondary is going to be absolutely awful again.

[bucksfan2]

According to PFF Harrison was their most productive DE, he isn't a bust. Man you need to come down from the ledge.

Just a few thoughts from the game:

-The loss of Sermon on the 1st play of the game really hurt. Teague just isn't a big time back. Good roll player, not a good bell cow.

-Even worse than Sermon may have been the loss of Togiai and Smith, two guys who played vital roles in the DLine rotation.

-I don't think OSU beats Bama if at full strength, but it would have been a better game.

-Two things really played into the game last night, the 7 game season and lack of spring football. They didn't have time to get their younger players developed.

-It has been talked about a lot within OSU circles, but they whiffed in CB recruiting a couple of seasons ago, and it is really showing up. They had little depth, and their freshman weren't ready to play.

-That was the worst called defensive game I have ever seen. 4 LB's on the field? What was Coombs thinking?

-I give Coombs a pass because this has been such a disjointed season, and think his secondary recruiting should get things rolling again, but I would have serious concerns about his defensive scheme. The idea Borland played as much and was in a position to cover Smith one on one was horrible.

-Wade may be best served coming back into a Malcolm Jenkins type of position. I don't think he is a top 10 type of pick anymore, but guy could play himself into a first rounder as a slot/safety.

-Spring football will be important this season, but OSU has things rolling, they should be back in contention again next season.

[BuckeyeRed27]

They knew they didn’t have to hit home runs. They saw Kerry Coombs on the other sideline, a horrendous secondary, and a defensive front missing its best player and solid DE. They saw that and knew they could just pick up 4-8 yard plays at will and score whenever they wanted. That game was over before the coin toss. When the opposing team is going for it on 4th and more than 1 every single time early in a game they have absolutely no respect for your defense. None. And OSU showed their defense should not be respected. People are arguing if it’s scheme or personnel. It was both.

Coombs - great recruiter, awful coach

DE Zach Harrison - bust
DT - Togiai - out, replacement was a complete nothing
DT - Garret - solid player, not good enough against Bama
DE Tyreke Smith - out, replacement was a complete nothing
LB - Browning - made one great play, otherwise a complete nothing. His OSU career in a nutshell. Bust.
LB - Werner - solid player, good tackler
LB - Borland - good against mediocre teams, a complete liability against Bama. Not his fault he somehow ended up trying to cover Smith. Scheme.
CB - Wade. Good slot CB, horrendous outside CB. Cost himself millions of dollars coming back this year and I feel bad for he and his family for making such a bad decision.
CB - Banks - Not a starting caliber CB at this level
S - Williamson - this guy is bad. The only time you hear his name called is when he makes a tackle after a 25 yard completion by opposing team.
S - Proctor - mediocre. Horrible hands.

That’s about it. Zach Harrison is what hurts the most. He is a complete and utter bust. Was a top 10 recruit in the country. He is just a complete nothing out there. I hope Sawyer comes in and takes the starting role from him immediately because I don’t want to watch Harrison line up every down next year and not sniff the QB or RB in the backfield.

The DBs - I don’t fully blame this on Coombs. Grinch and Taver Johnson set this secondary unit back a few years. It shows how important it is to not have missed classes is at this level and OSU had two in a row. What’s scary about the secondary is that next year could easily be worse. We are basically relying on Sevyn Banks again, who sucks, and wishing and praying Lejond Cavazos and Cam Martinez show up and turn heads. If those two aren’t anything the Buckeye secondary is going to be absolutely awful again.

Yeah I have some Coombs questions. Like you said probably need to see another season because he didn't inherit the same elite level DBs that we've had for a few years and then Wint and Riep got kicked off the team and Brown gets hurt in Game 2.

I'll disagree a little bit on Banks, I think he showed a lot of progress over the season. He's not on an Okudah/Ward type level, but I can see him getting to an Arnette type level next year.

It's too early to call Harrison a bust, but next season is big for him. He was viewed as a super athletic project and has ended up playing a ton. The expectation was he was going to get to a Young/Bosa type level, which is obviously a ridiculous standard, but he hasn't flashed like those guys did as freshman and sophomores. But in a game like last night, you need someone on a Young/Bosa level...and yeah Harrison didn't come through.

It'll be interesting to see how OSU looks next year. Ton of guys are leaving. Fields, Sermon, Davis, Munford, Myers, Ruckert, Farrell, Olave, Cooper, Garett, Borland, Werner, Hillard, Browning, Wade maybe a few other guys too.

[bucksfan2]

Yeah I have some Coombs questions. Like you said probably need to see another season because he didn't inherit the same elite level DBs that we've had for a few years and then Wint and Riep got kicked off the team and Brown gets hurt in Game 2.

I'll disagree a little bit on Banks, I think he showed a lot of progress over the season. He's not on an Okudah/Ward type level, but I can see him getting to an Arnette type level next year.

It's too early to call Harrison a bust, but next season is big for him. He was viewed as a super athletic project and has ended up playing a ton. The expectation was he was going to get to a Young/Bosa type level, which is obviously a ridiculous standard, but he hasn't flashed like those guys did as freshman and sophomores. But in a game like last night, you need someone on a Young/Bosa level...and yeah Harrison didn't come through.

It'll be interesting to see how OSU looks next year. Ton of guys are leaving. Fields, Sermon, Davis, Munford, Myers, Ruckert, Farrell, Olave, Cooper, Garett, Borland, Werner, Hillard, Browning, Wade maybe a few other guys too.

The only player I envision a big drop off from is Fields, maybe Davis and Ruckert. Olave is my favorite Buckeye in a long time, but Garrett, JSN, Flemming, and Gee Scott should be able to replace him as the season goes along.

If you can't replace the likes of those other guys, you don't have an elite program. There may be some drop off, but it shouldn't be drastic.

[BuckeyeRed27]

The only player I envision a big drop off from is Fields, maybe Davis and Ruckert. Olave is my favorite Buckeye in a long time, but Garrett, JSN, Flemming, and Gee Scott should be able to replace him as the season goes along.

If you can't replace the likes of those other guys, you don't have an elite program. There may be some drop off, but it shouldn't be drastic.

Yeah I'm sure we will be good, just not sure it's a pencil in a playoff spot. Although pretty much all the top teams are replacing their QBs, so should be an interesting season.

[oregonred]

OSU needs Spring Ball and a lots of reps

Saw they missed over 300 workouts and practices with Spring Ball canceled, Big Ten incompetence and the in season Covid protocals

Was a mini miracle they made it to the Championship Game and getting the Clemson monkey off the back made the season. Sermon injury gut punch and game plan had no adjustment. 1-Dimensional vs. Bama (or OSU or Clemson) and the game can go sideways fast

I have no idea how Bama talked Harris, Smith, Leatherwood, Moses, etc. into coming back for 2020. Imagine OSU 2020 with Okudah, Arnette, Chase Young and Dobbins and a competent conference office using the rest of literaly the entire Sports World's COVID protocols (B1G arrogance)

[RedTeamGo!]

I have no idea how Bama talked Harris, Smith, Leatherwood, Moses, etc. into coming back for 2020. Imagine OSU 2020 with Okudah, Arnette, Chase Young and Dobbins and a competent conference office using the rest of literaly the entire Sports World's COVID protocols (B1G arrogance)

$$$$$$

[Hillsdale87]

They knew they didn’t have to hit home runs. They saw Kerry Coombs on the other sideline, a horrendous secondary, and a defensive front missing its best player and solid DE. They saw that and knew they could just pick up 4-8 yard plays at will and score whenever they wanted. That game was over before the coin toss. When the opposing team is going for it on 4th and more than 1 every single time early in a game they have absolutely no respect for your defense. None. And OSU showed their defense should not be respected. People are arguing if it’s scheme or personnel. It was both.

Coombs - great recruiter, awful coach

DE Zach Harrison - bust
DT - Togiai - out, replacement was a complete nothing
DT - Garret - solid player, not good enough against Bama
DE Tyreke Smith - out, replacement was a complete nothing
LB - Browning - made one great play, otherwise a complete nothing. His OSU career in a nutshell. Bust.
LB - Werner - solid player, good tackler
LB - Borland - good against mediocre teams, a complete liability against Bama. Not his fault he somehow ended up trying to cover Smith. Scheme.
CB - Wade. Good slot CB, horrendous outside CB. Cost himself millions of dollars coming back this year and I feel bad for he and his family for making such a bad decision.
CB - Banks - Not a starting caliber CB at this level
S - Williamson - this guy is bad. The only time you hear his name called is when he makes a tackle after a 25 yard completion by opposing team.
S - Proctor - mediocre. Horrible hands.

That’s about it. Zach Harrison is what hurts the most. He is a complete and utter bust. Was a top 10 recruit in the country. He is just a complete nothing out there. I hope Sawyer comes in and takes the starting role from him immediately because I don’t want to watch Harrison line up every down next year and not sniff the QB or RB in the backfield.

The DBs - I don’t fully blame this on Coombs. Grinch and Taver Johnson set this secondary unit back a few years. It shows how important it is to not have missed classes is at this level and OSU had two in a row. What’s scary about the secondary is that next year could easily be worse. We are basically relying on Sevyn Banks again, who sucks, and wishing and praying Lejond Cavazos and Cam Martinez show up and turn heads. If those two aren’t anything the Buckeye secondary is going to be absolutely awful again.

It's remarkable that OSU finished the season #2 considering that almost every player sucks or is at best mediocre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RedTeamGo!]

It's remarkable that OSU finished the season #2 considering that almost every player sucks or is at best mediocre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Didn’t say every player. The offense was fantastic. And let’s not forget they only played 8 games.

OSU’s pass defense finished 122 out of 127.

122 out of 127.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Didn’t say every player. The offense was fantastic. And let’s not forget they only played 8 games.

OSU’s pass defense finished 122 out of 127.

122 out of 127.

OSU played 3 teams that could pass the ball in Indiana, Clemson and Alabama. The difference was in the Indiana and Clemson games they completely shut down the run and Alabama ran for 160 yards.

[oregonred]

The D-line was the strength of the OSU defense rebuilding from the secondary losses last year and then losing Smith and Tommy T from the virus protocols was crushing. The 7-year incredible run of Bosa, Bosa, Chase Young as generational CFB DL Edge freaks back-back-back had to end at some point

Last night the offense did not help the defense at all controlling the LOS, hitting on 2-3 big plays and eating clock as needed to minimize Bama possessions.

I thought going in that Fields needed 10-12 designed run plays or RPOs and that was assuming Sermon was in the plan for more than 6 seconds of the game as a run/pass weapon. This Bama team was a special one as Saban's first undefeated team and OSU needed 40pts and to control the offensive LOS to have any chance to stop the Bama offensive machine

Also, the game was just weird (as all year) with little to no crowd, bands and having to create your own energy and juice. It worked perfectly as Clemson was the target for OSU to avenge last year's travesty with a special OSU team. Clearly the Championship was Bama's focus from Day 1 and I still can't believe all those guys came back in 2020 for Saban.

Note the NFL road teams won 4/6 games. No stadium energy and home field advantage is impacting the NFL quality too.

[RedsBaron]

This Bama team was a special one as Saban's first undefeated team and
Saban's 2009 Alabama team went 14-0 en route to a national championship. The current Bama team was his second undefeated team at Alabama.

[*BaseClogger*]

Is it a foregone conclusion Ruckert is gone?

[RedsBaron]

Someone on ESPN said this morning that Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have won 17 of the 21 national championship playoff games ever played, counting all semifinal and championship games played from 2015 through last night. I thought "is that right, and, if so, who won the other four games?"
It's right. Alabama has 8 wins in the national championship era, Clemson has 6 wins and Ohio State has 3 wins. LSU has two wins, winning semifinal and championship games last year. Georgia won a semifinal game in 2018. Oregon won a semifinal game in 2015.

[RedTeamGo!]

Is it a foregone conclusion Ruckert is gone?

No, but I’d be surprised if he stays

- - - Updated - - -


Someone on ESPN said this morning that Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have won 17 of the 21 national championship playoff games ever played, counting all semifinal and championship games played from 2015 through last night. I thought "is that right, and, if so, who won the other four games?"
It's right. Alabama has 8 wins in the national championship era, Clemson has 6 wins and Ohio State has 3 wins. LSU has two wins, winning semifinal and championship games last year. Georgia won a semifinal game in 2018. Oregon won a semifinal game in 2015.

In short: college football is broken

[RiverRat13]

College football needs to expand the playoffs to widen interest, and it needs Texas and USC to be strong to balance the SEC/Clemson/OSU. Saban retiring might help, too.

[Boston Red]

Someone on ESPN said this morning that Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have won 17 of the 21 national championship playoff games ever played, counting all semifinal and championship games played from 2015 through last night. I thought "is that right, and, if so, who won the other four games?"
It's right. Alabama has 8 wins in the national championship era, Clemson has 6 wins and Ohio State has 3 wins. LSU has two wins, winning semifinal and championship games last year. Georgia won a semifinal game in 2018. Oregon won a semifinal game in 2015.

Sounds a bit like men's tennis with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.

[oregonred]

Not really broken. it's always been a sport of dynasties

Michigan back before the Hoover and Harding administations, through the Service academies, Notre Dame, Bear, Woody, Nebraska, the U, Meyer at UF, Saban at Bama, Dabo since 2015. We thought Urban at OSU would build one but now we have the Day handoff that is just keeping things going

OSU has been unbelievably consistent since 2002 - the most consistent program the last twenty years. Two National Championships is great, but could have been 4-5 with a few more breaks and matchups. We all forget the complete dumpster fire that was Alabama from the mid 90s until Saban slithered out of Miami in 2008.

Saban may coach until he is 85. The dude seems to not even be stressed. He's done an amazing job recycling failed head coaches to be coordinators. He's the Bill B of CFB.

[westofyou]

Not really broken. it's always been a sport of dynasties

Michigan back before the Hoover and Harding administations, through the Service academies, Notre Dame, Bear, Woody, Nebraska, the U, Meyer at UF, Saban at Bama, Dabo since 2015. We thought Urban at OSU would build one but now we have the Day handoff that is just keeping things going

OSU has been unbelievably consistent since 2002 - the most consistent program the last twenty years. Two National Championships is great, but could have been 4-5 with a few more breaks and matchups. We all forget the complete dumpster fire that was Alabama from the mid 90s until Saban slithered out of Miami in 2008.

Saban may coach until he is 85. The dude seems to not even be stressed. He's done an amazing job recycling failed head coaches to be coordinators. He's the Bill B of CFB.

So True... Minnesota in the 1930's Army in the 1940's it all churns and changes

[oregonred]

Someone on ESPN said this morning that Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State have won 17 of the 21 national championship playoff games ever played, counting all semifinal and championship games played from 2015 through last night. I thought "is that right, and, if so, who won the other four games?"
It's right. Alabama has 8 wins in the national championship era, Clemson has 6 wins and Ohio State has 3 wins. LSU has two wins, winning semifinal and championship games last year. Georgia won a semifinal game in 2018. Oregon won a semifinal game in 2015.

What makes it seem broken is that only 3 of 14 CFP semifinal games have been competitive (OSU-Bama in '15, Okie/GA OT in '18 and OSU-Clemson in '20). 11 blowouts and 3 competitive games

As for the CFP Final, only 3/7 have been competitive. Bama-Clemson x2 and Georgia/Bama in '18. Each of Clemson, Bama and OSU have been blown out in the Final one time. And each has administered a beat down one time...

Bama has never lost to anyone not named Clemson and OSU
OSU has never lost to anyone not named Clemson and Bama
Clemson has only lost to Bama (2x), OSU and the Fighthing Joe Burrows last year

[Phoenix2]

OSU needs Spring Ball and a lots of reps

Saw they missed over 300 workouts and practices with Spring Ball canceled, Big Ten incompetence and the in season Covid protocals

Was a mini miracle they made it to the Championship Game and getting the Clemson monkey off the back made the season. Sermon injury gut punch and game plan had no adjustment. 1-Dimensional vs. Bama (or OSU or Clemson) and the game can go sideways fast

I have no idea how Bama talked Harris, Smith, Leatherwood, Moses, etc. into coming back for 2020. Imagine OSU 2020 with Okudah, Arnette, Chase Young and Dobbins and a competent conference office using the rest of literaly the entire Sports World's COVID protocols (B1G arrogance)

Thanks for this. Yes I would have liked to see that Imagine 2020 team play Bama!

[westofyou]

What makes it seem broken is that only 3 of 14 CFP semifinal games have been competitive (OSU-Bama in '15, Okie/GA OT in '18 and OSU-Clemson in '20). 11 blowouts and 3 competitive games

As for the CFP Final, only 3/7 have been competitive. Bama-Clemson x2 and Georgia/Bama in '18. Each of Clemson, Bama and OSU have been blown out in the Final one time. And each has administered a beat down one time...

Bama has never lost to anyone not named Clemson and OSU
OSU has never lost to anyone not named Clemson and Bama
Clemson has only lost to Bama (2x), OSU and the Fighthing Joe Burrows last year

Exactly, it's boring which is the illusion of broken badly

[adkindo]

I heard something absurd today (did not completely check, but the math checks out after a quick glance)....every recruit that Saban has brought in to Alabama that has not left the program and/or transferred has a National Championship ring.

[adkindo]

Not really broken. it's always been a sport of dynasties

It will not alter who wins the championship (except on a rare occasion), but it will increase/expand hope. "Hope" is pure gold to the sports fan. Also, college football is leaning more and more towards the NCAA Tournament where getting to the Final 4 is almost as big of a deal as winning a championship. Teams hang banners for just making it to the Final 4. College football is not there, but it is becoming the primary goal for most teams....just get in.

Going to 6 or 8 will help in the short term....but it will make all other bowls even less relevant and they are barely TV worthy as it is now. I think the only long term solution is to go to 16 (or even 24 with the Top 8 teams getting a bye) and incorporating the bowls into the playoffs. So the first weekend. #24 plays @ #9, then the second weekend #9 (assuming #9 beat #24) will play #8 in the Holiday Bowl as an example. If it remains chalk, the next weekend #8 would play #1 in a higher tier bowl like the Citrus or Gator. Shorten the regular season to 10 games, and a team has a maximum of 14 (Top 8 Seeds to Championship) or 15 ( Seeds #9-#24) games.

I think a true college football playoff for Division 1 Football could be bigger than March Madness and produce exponentially more revenue than the current 4 team playoff and bowl system.

[adkindo]

Zach Barnett
@zach_barnett

AFCA executive director Todd Berry says the AFCA rules committee wants to create a rule to penalize faking injuries. "It's time to end it," he says.

4:21 PM · Jan 12, 2021

solution is simple.....if a player cannot get off the field and the game has to stop so the player can be assisted, the player should remain out of the game for the remainder of the quarter or half.

[adkindo]

Dennis Dodd
@dennisdoddcbs

Rich Rodriguez is the new offensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe.

5:00 PM · Jan 12, 2021


One WVU Alum helping out another. I am not sure Terry B. is helping RichRod, or RichRod is helping Terry B.

[adkindo]

One WVU Alum helping out another. I am not sure Terry B. is helping RichRod, or RichRod is helping Terry B.

and they added another former WVU player to the staff.....Clint Trickett added as QB coach

[BuckeyeRed27]

It will not alter who wins the championship (except on a rare occasion), but it will increase/expand hope. "Hope" is pure gold to the sports fan. Also, college football is leaning more and more towards the NCAA Tournament where getting to the Final 4 is almost as big of a deal as winning a championship. Teams hang banners for just making it to the Final 4. College football is not there, but it is becoming the primary goal for most teams....just get in.

Going to 6 or 8 will help in the short term....but it will make all other bowls even less relevant and they are barely TV worthy as it is now. I think the only long term solution is to go to 16 (or even 24 with the Top 8 teams getting a bye) and incorporating the bowls into the playoffs. So the first weekend. #24 plays @ #9, then the second weekend #9 (assuming #9 beat #24) will play #8 in the Holiday Bowl as an example. If it remains chalk, the next weekend #8 would play #1 in a higher tier bowl like the Citrus or Gator. Shorten the regular season to 10 games, and a team has a maximum of 14 (Top 8 Seeds to Championship) or 15 ( Seeds #9-#24) games.

I think a true college football playoff for Division 1 Football could be bigger than March Madness and produce exponentially more revenue than the current 4 team playoff and bowl system.

I’m not sure the relevance of the non championship bowls is really a factor. You can have an 8 team tournament and still have bowls. It’s a reward and an experience for the players, a live event that will get 1-2M viewers for ESPN and a vacation for a few alums. That’s what they are now and that’s all they need to be.

I’ve always seen the expansion of the playoffs as a way to bring a focus back to conference championships, which used to be all that mattered in college football and encourage better non conference games. Automatic bids for conference champions won’t scare teams away from scheduling a couple P5 teams by giving you an out if you lose and giving you a better case to be a wild card if you win.

8 teams, 5 auto bids, 3 wild cards chosen by committee, the committee chooses matchups. First round held at highest seeds home stadium and then bowl sites after that.

[Phoenix2]

The BCS System with only two teams kept the focus on conference championships. And then only those two teams played for a national championship. The playoff to four teams seemingly diminished conference championships because all the pundits would talk about was the 4 teams to get in. I supported the 4 team playoff but the unintended consequence became that the 4 team playoff is all anyone talked about. And since that is all that is discussed no one cared so much about who won the Big 10, Pac 12, etc. It's a shame and I didn't see it coming.

[RichRed]

FCS (formerly I-AA), D-II, and D-III have all had playoffs for decades. There is no *legitimate* reason FBS can't do the same. And who wouldn't be glued to every single game? It would be enormous.

[adkindo]

I’m not sure the relevance of the non championship bowls is really a factor. You can have an 8 team tournament and still have bowls. It’s a reward and an experience for the players, a live event that will get 1-2M viewers for ESPN and a vacation for a few alums. That’s what they are now and that’s all they need to be.

I’ve always seen the expansion of the playoffs as a way to bring a focus back to conference championships, which used to be all that mattered in college football and encourage better non conference games. Automatic bids for conference champions won’t scare teams away from scheduling a couple P5 teams by giving you an out if you lose and giving you a better case to be a wild card if you win.

8 teams, 5 auto bids, 3 wild cards chosen by committee, the committee chooses matchups. First round held at highest seeds home stadium and then bowl sites after that.

Maybe as an Ohio State fan, you are unaware....but I use to go to bowls like the Carquest Bowl (in Miami) and that stadium would be nearly packed for a 4th place Big East team and a 6th place SEC team. If you follow that bowl through the name and location changes, it is now the Camping World Bowl (in Orlando) and the last time I was at that game (2018) the bottom bowl was not even full. The non NY6 Bowls are on life support and the NY6 Bowls have decreased in interest rapidly since the playoffs started. Even worse, this years playoff games and championship game had the lowest ratings since the beginning of the BCS. The only path to get back lost fans/interest is to give more fans a reason to have interest. Just my opinion.

[adkindo]

The BCS System with only two teams kept the focus on conference championships. And then only those two teams played for a national championship. The playoff to four teams seemingly diminished conference championships because all the pundits would talk about was the 4 teams to get in. I supported the 4 team playoff but the unintended consequence became that the 4 team playoff is all anyone talked about. And since that is all that is discussed no one cared so much about who won the Big 10, Pac 12, etc. It's a shame and I didn't see it coming.

They are talking about it in Week #2 during a Clemson/East Carolina game....it is basically the only topic discussed by the national sports media in regards to college football.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Maybe as an Ohio State fan, you are unaware....but I use to go to bowls like the Carquest Bowl (in Miami) and that stadium would be nearly packed for a 4th place Big East team and a 6th place SEC team. If you follow that bowl through the name and location changes, it is now the Camping World Bowl (in Orlando) and the last time I was at that game (2018) the bottom bowl was not even full. The non NY6 Bowls are on life support and the NY6 Bowls have decreased in interest rapidly since the playoffs started. Even worse, this years playoff games and championship game had the lowest ratings since the beginning of the BCS. The only path to get back lost fans/interest is to give more fans a reason to have interest. Just my opinion.

I don’t disagree with giving fans more interest, I just don’t think the way to do it is with some mega tournament. It’s with improving the regular season by prioritizing conference championships and encouraging better non conference games. College football is a regular season sport, that’s about campus atmosphere and rivalries. Focus on that. Make that as good as you can. If that means the Camping World Bowl goes away...ok.

[RedTeamGo!]

Maybe as an Ohio State fan, you are unaware....but I use to go to bowls like the Carquest Bowl (in Miami) and that stadium would be nearly packed for a 4th place Big East team and a 6th place SEC team. If you follow that bowl through the name and location changes, it is now the Camping World Bowl (in Orlando) and the last time I was at that game (2018) the bottom bowl was not even full. The non NY6 Bowls are on life support and the NY6 Bowls have decreased in interest rapidly since the playoffs started. Even worse, this years playoff games and championship game had the lowest ratings since the beginning of the BCS. The only path to get back lost fans/interest is to give more fans a reason to have interest. Just my opinion.

I agree with you completely on this. Let’s do a 24 team tourney and call it a day. Most of the bowls suck and most elite players are opting out because why risk injury in a meaningless bowl game?

[Boston Red]

I prefer 16 to 24, but I absolutely prefer 24 to 4. As in every other sport, there should be a path for every team that participates to win a championship. Prairie View A&M is never going to win a basketball championship, but there is a path for them. If Alabama and Coastal Carolina traded rosters, there still would be no path for Coastal Carolina to win a college football title.

And I think that would grow interest enormously at all levels of college football, by the way. A lot of people like to watch the championships of lesser college basketball conferences to see who is getting the auto bids. There's a ton of excitement. Most of those teams know they are getting beat in the first round of the Tournament, but getting there to play Duke or Kentucky (well, maybe not this year for those two) is the prize. There's no such interest in the C-USA or Sun Belt football championship, but there would be if there was a bigger tournament that awarded auto-bids to the playoffs (like in every other level of college football and in every other NCAA sport).

[oregonred]

I think the 5 + 3 at large plan is the best one; maximum 3 per conference

Will further diminsh the other bowls but since ESPN now owns half of them for TV programming only and all they talk about is the CFP, who really cares? The secondary Bowls were dying long before the CFP

How to address opt outs/injuries. Wyatt Davis may have lost millions playing in the CFP for "free". Adding another round of games means that issue should be addressed

I am still not sure how you avoid the CFP blowout issue. If we've already had ~80% of the semifinal games as blowouts, how will adding another round of first round pummelings from Bama, Clemson and OSU and the occassional hot team of the year like LSU 2019 help that issue?

[Boston Red]

I am still not sure how you avoid the CFP blowout issue. If we've already had ~80% of the semifinal games as blowouts, how will adding another round of first round pummelings from Bama, Clemson and OSU and the occassional hot team of the year like LSU 2019 help that issue?

Perhaps the committee is doing a poor job of selecting the 3rd and (particularly) 4th best teams? Perhaps if more teams are included, you'd get less pummelings because you'd actually end up with some better teams playing Clemson, Bama an OSU.

[oregonred]

Maybe, although two #4's won the championsjip while a #3 has never won one

I think the solution is to legislate Nick Saban's retirement from the sport. That seems to be the only fair solution. Problem solved...

[Reds Freak]

How about reducing the scholarship maximum per team to increase parity? Each FBS program gets 85 full-ride scholarships, more than any football team needs. FCS programs have a max of 63.

How about cutting the full-rides down to 75 per team, which might encourage the four-star third-stringers at Alabama to consider a mid-level P5 program or a G5 school? Then spread out those extra 10 scholarships to a sport like baseball, which only gets 11.7 per team.

[oregonred]

It seems the transfer portal would make things more equitable to balance any need to reduce scholarships but it seems to have helped the top 8-10 powers more over the first few years (Burrow, Fields, etc.)

Early NFL departures haven't seemed to dent the Okie QB, Clemson, Bama and OSU machines

I think Saban forced retirement is the only solution :)

[KronoRed]

Less scholarships.

Abolish the "analyst" position that is being used to get around the coaching staff cap.

[adkindo]

I don’t disagree with giving fans more interest, I just don’t think the way to do it is with some mega tournament. It’s with improving the regular season by prioritizing conference championships and encouraging better non conference games. College football is a regular season sport, that’s about campus atmosphere and rivalries. Focus on that. Make that as good as you can. If that means the Camping World Bowl goes away...ok.

In the end, you may be correct. I think our personal views are each influenced to a degree by where we stand....yours is kind of from atop the mountain and mine is about half way down the mountain. Does not mean one is better or more accurate, but it has to have some level of impact. I speculate that what might really excite a WVU fan like getting to the 2nd Round (if that is the Final 16 or Final 8) probably would not move the needle for a Ohio State football fan....but at the same time there are far more WVU's than Ohio States. I am even a little snobbish right now in that unless WVU is going to the playoff, an NY6 bowl, or a non NY6 Tier 1 Bowl (Citrus, Gator, Alamo), then I would just rather skip it....so I know Ohio State fans are never going to be happy going back to the Citrus Bowl in the future.

Again, I am not suggesting you are incorrect, only that I fear the solution everyone is talking about with the 8 Team (5 Champs, 1 G6 and 2 At Large) model will ultimately make some of the current issues worse in maintaining strong interest from 30-40 fan bases....but it would not be the first time I have been wrong about the best path forward.

[adkindo]

Alabama fan still wishes they had hired Rich Rodriguez (https://twitter.com/SECShorts/status/1349717911116664832)

[oregonred]

What no Mike Price or Mike Shula? Bama fans forget what a dumpster fire that program was after Perkins and before Saban. Spurrier and then Meyer owned the SEC for 15 years before Saban showed up (yes, remember the LSU Nati from Saban)

[Chip R]

FCS (formerly I-AA), D-II, and D-III have all had playoffs for decades. There is no *legitimate* reason FBS can't do the same. And who wouldn't be glued to every single game? It would be enormous.

Exactly. You know why March Madness is so engrossing - especially the 1st round? It's because the underdogs (double digit seeds) have the chance to (and have) knocked off the top seeds. Even people who didn't go to those schools are paying rapt attention to these games. The problem with a FBS playoff is that it's during the waning weeks of the NFL season and the first week of the playoffs. A solution to that would be to move those games to weekdays or Fridays. Another criticism is that these kids are playing extra games and could get hurt. The best kids are going to the NFL and will play at least 17 games. Plus half the teams will be eliminated in the first round. I know people will say that there won't be those 15-2 14-3 upsets like there are in March Madness. Probably not but we'll never know with the current system.

The big drawbacks to this are the bowls. Since there are so many bowl games, you could incorporate more of them into the playoffs. That would leave the lesser bowls to teams that didn't make the playoffs. However, if you do that, you can't have 1st and 2nd round games on campuses. I know a lot of teams would like teams below the Mason Dixon line to play in their houses in November and December and maybe even January. It would be fun to see what the SEC and ACC teams could do when trying to brave the cold and/or snow.

[oregonred]

They would have to address the injury/opt-out factor for any expanded playoffs and spread out the games to have two weeks between rounds.

I still didn't see any Wyatt Davis injury diagnosis?

That's the perfect example of why adding more do or die games and risking future earnings needs to be addressed

[adkindo]

We have all seen the young man in his final season have a serious injury in a post season game, and it is heartbreaking. I have seen far more suffer those injuries in the regular season. My point is I get the math is the more games you play, the odds increase.....but major injuries are so random I have just never bought into the fear that only seems to surround post season games. I think usually high level draft prospects often obtain some level of insurance for those games, but maybe the NCAA could mandate schools purchase some type of insurance policy on career altering injuries in the post season that would cover Juniors/Seniors? Maybe there is a better solution. I am all for protecting the players in any way possible, but not playing is just not going to be a long term solution in my opinion.

[RedTeamGo!]

Chris Olave coming back for his senior year. Not sure which thread it was but I called this months ago. Just had a feeling.

[kaldaniels]

Chris Olave coming back for his senior year. Not sure which thread it was but I called this months ago. Just had a feeling.

Pretty surprising in this day and age. I’d heard second round.

[RedTeamGo!]

Pretty surprising in this day and age. I’d heard second round.

He’s not the only one: Ruckert, Garrett, Munford, Olave all coming back. They all would have been drafted rounds 2 or 3. Seems like the Bama team from this year has started something. They famously returned their whole team to make a championship run.

With Ruck and Olave coming back it makes me think they are confident in the next QB as well. Stroud must be throwing dimes in practice.

Now we just need Tyreke Smith and Tommy Togiai to come back.

[kaldaniels]

He’s not the only one: Ruckert, Garrett, Munford, Olave all coming back. They all would have been drafted rounds 2 or 3. Seems like the Bama team from this year has started something. They famously returned their whole team to make a championship run.

With Ruck and Olave coming back it makes me think they are confident in the next QB as well. Stroud must be throwing dimes in practice.

Now we just need Tyreke Smith and Tommy Togiai to come back.

Man I’d checked out on worrying who was staying/going cause usually it’s just a given most high-mid-round draftees will be gone. Garrett a big surprise too.

[BuckeyeRed27]

He’s not the only one: Ruckert, Garrett, Munford, Olave all coming back. They all would have been drafted rounds 2 or 3. Seems like the Bama team from this year has started something. They famously returned their whole team to make a championship run.

With Ruck and Olave coming back it makes me think they are confident in the next QB as well. Stroud must be throwing dimes in practice.

Now we just need Tyreke Smith and Tommy Togiai to come back.

Smith staying, Togiai going pro.

[RedTeamGo!]

Smith staying, Togiai going pro.

TT going pro hurts big time. The Buckeyes haven’t been recruiting well at DT at all. TT was the best of the bunch. They have nobody quality on the roster to replace him. Will probably have to look at the transfer portal.

[BuckeyeRed27]

TT going pro hurts big time. The Buckeyes haven’t been recruiting well at DT at all. TT was the best of the bunch. They have nobody quality on the roster to replace him. Will probably have to look at the transfer portal.

They still have a legit chance at the #1 DT in this recruiting class. If Taron Vincent can stay healthy I still have a lot of hope for him.

[RedTeamGo!]

They still have a legit chance at the #1 DT in this recruiting class. If Taron Vincent can stay healthy I still have a lot of hope for him.

This should be a big selling point to Tuimolau. “You have a very good chance of playing right away and often.”

[adkindo]

This should be a big selling point to Tuimolau. “You have a very good chance of playing right away and often.”

I thought he was going to Ohio State, but it appears Alabama is tying to make a late push?

[RedTeamGo!]

I thought he was going to Ohio State, but it appears Alabama is tying to make a late push?

His crystal ball is 92% OSU 8% Washington. But Bama is Bama. Who knows.

[adkindo]

His crystal ball is 92% OSU 8% Washington. But Bama is Bama. Who knows.

I may not be up to speed, but I thought I recall reading something like that about him a few weeks ago because I think he is the highest rated uncommitted. I would think a guy in his position in choosing between Bama and Ohio State, a big part would be where am I likely to contribute the quickest so I can get my 3 years in and become a millionaire.

[RedTeamGo!]

I may not be up to speed, but I thought I recall reading something like that about him a few weeks ago because I think he is the highest rated uncommitted. I would think a guy in his position in choosing between Bama and Ohio State, a big part would be where am I likely to contribute the quickest so I can get my 3 years in and become a millionaire.

I think if he goes to OSU he will either start right away or play significant playing time immediately while competing for a national championship. I don’t know Bama’s DT situation, but I am sure they are loaded at that position. He will likely sit until the following season. This is an incredibly rare situation at OSU. They almost never have holes on the defensive line. They had a few DT busts and TT went pro before anyone expected. Also, one of his best friends, Ebuka, has already signed with OSU. He is from the state of Washington so the Huskies are definitely in play. It’s down to OSU, Bama, and UW. I think he will pick OSU, but when Bama is involved it’s never surprising when they swoop in at the last minute and pick your pocket on a recruit. That safety, Battle, is a good example. He had been committed to OSU for a year and a half. The week of signing day he flipped to Bama. Nobody saw it coming.

[Hillsdale87]

It's great that Olave is coming back. It's going to set up the next QB really well to have 2 1st round WRs to start his career. However, I'd guess that means one or two transfers are coming. There's way too much talent in the WR room with Wilson and Olave plus 2 2020 5*s and the #1 2021 WR in addition to multiple highly ranked 4*s. I'm guessing there will be more rotation next year like we've seen in the past, but there's still not enough playing time.

[RedTeamGo!]

It's great that Olave is coming back. It's going to set up the next QB really well to have 2 1st round WRs to start his career. However, I'd guess that means one or two transfers are coming. There's way too much talent in the WR room with Wilson and Olave plus 2 2020 5*s and the #1 2021 WR in addition to multiple highly ranked 4*s. I'm guessing there will be more rotation next year like we've seen in the past, but there's still not enough playing time.

I think it will be Fleming and Babb. People are going to freak out over Fleming, but he didn’t impress much his freshman year and was clearly outplayed by JSN. Gee might transfer too. I’m ok with it, the incoming 21 class is better than the 20 class outside of JSN anyways.

[adkindo]

It's great that Olave is coming back. It's going to set up the next QB really well to have 2 1st round WRs to start his career. However, I'd guess that means one or two transfers are coming. There's way too much talent in the WR room with Wilson and Olave plus 2 2020 5*s and the #1 2021 WR in addition to multiple highly ranked 4*s. I'm guessing there will be more rotation next year like we've seen in the past, but there's still not enough playing time.

Honestly shocked he is returning because I saw him on most mock boards going the 2nd day of the draft. I am all for college guys returning, but to be a high draft pick and in the process of a QB change definitely would appear risky from the outside.

[RedTeamGo!]

Honestly shocked he is returning because I saw him on most mock boards going the 2nd day of the draft. I am all for college guys returning, but to be a high draft pick and in the process of a QB change definitely would appear risky from the outside.

I said this to a friend of mine and think I’m right:

He's also humble, he knows if OSU didn't discover a random 3 star in CA nobody big was recruiting when they were out there looking at someone else he would have ended up at like Cal and wouldn't have made it to the NFL.

I think he and Ruckert staying says they are very confident in CJ Strouds ability. They are both betting on themselves to make another step forward next year and increase their draft stock. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he spoke to some folks in the know and was advised he might slip to the 3rd or 4th round because of his size. If Stroud is as good as I think he will be 2021 might be special.