Tag: Ohio State Buckeyes Football

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Al Golden Emerges as Top Candidate for Bengals Defensive Coordinator After Notre Dame Loss

Al Golden
Al Golden (Ohio State)

After Notre Dame’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national championship, defensive coordinator Al Golden emerged as a top candidate for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator position. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Golden is the front-runner for the role. Following the game, Golden expressed that he was solely focused on the outcome of the championship, offering no comment on his potential future.

Golden’s Role at Notre Dame and NFL Experience

Golden has served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator for three seasons, helping the team maintain a top-25 defense during his tenure. Prior to joining the Fighting Irish, he was with the Bengals as their linebackers coach for two years, including their Super Bowl run in 2021. If Golden returns to Cincinnati, he would replace Lou Anarumo, who was let go by the Bengals after the 2024 season.

Marcus Freeman
Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)

Should Golden leave, Notre Dame’s head coach Marcus Freeman will need to find a new defensive coordinator, marking Freeman’s fourth coordinator search since taking over. Freeman previously hired Gerad Parker as offensive coordinator and brought in Marty Biagi for special teams in 2022. In 2023, after Parker’s departure, Freeman hired Mike Denbrock from LSU. A defensive coordinator vacancy would add to Freeman’s ongoing adjustments to his coaching staff.

Golden Refused to Discuss NFL Move Throughout the Season

Golden was repeatedly asked throughout the season about his potential return to the NFL, but he consistently refused to comment. In January, after Anarumo’s firing, Golden denied having any discussions with the Bengals. He remained focused on his current responsibilities at Notre Dame, stating that he could not worry about anything other than the next game.

With the season now concluded, Golden must decide whether to leave for Cincinnati. If he does, it will result in Notre Dame’s fifth defensive coordinator change since 2017. Freeman would be tasked with replacing him, a crucial move to maintain the defensive strength that has been a cornerstone of the program under Golden’s leadership.

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College Football

Ohio State Targets Five-Star QB Jared Curtis to Bolster 2026 Recruiting Class Dominance

Jared Curtis
Jared Curtis

Ohio State continues to showcase its dominance in quarterback recruitment. The Buckeyes are already well-positioned with elite prospects Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair, who are set to battle for the starting role in 2025. These top-tier talents highlight the program’s ability to attract exceptional players, ensuring a bright future at the quarterback position. Despite this impressive depth, the Buckeyes remain proactive in seeking additional talent, demonstrating their commitment to long-term success.

Jared Curtis: A Rising Star in the 2026 Recruiting Class

Jared Curtis, a five-star quarterback from Nashville Christian School in Tennessee, has emerged as a top target for Ohio State. Ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 4 overall player in the 2026 class by On3 Sports, Curtis is a highly sought-after prospect. Initially committed to Georgia, Curtis has since reopened his recruitment, capturing the attention of several elite programs, including Ohio State. His decommitment marks a major opportunity for teams looking to secure one of the nation’s most talented young quarterbacks.

Jared Curtis
Jared Curtis

Curtis recently narrowed his options to six schools: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, South Carolina, and Oregon. This announcement, shared by Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports, places the Buckeyes firmly in the race for the dynamic quarterback. Standing at 6’4” and weighing 220 pounds, Curtis possesses the size and skill to excel at the collegiate level. His inclusion of Ohio State among his finalists underscores the program’s continued appeal to top-tier recruits.

Ryan Day’s Recruiting Prowess: A Proven Track Record

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has consistently excelled in recruiting elite talent, particularly at quarterback. Landing Curtis would add another accolade to his impressive recruiting resume and further solidify the Buckeyes’ quarterback depth for years to come. However, competition remains fierce, as Curtis’ other finalists are formidable programs with their own recruiting strengths. Day’s ability to secure Curtis’ commitment could significantly impact Ohio State’s future success.

Securing Curtis’ commitment is far from guaranteed, as he has not indicated a decision timeline. The Buckeyes’ inclusion in his top six is a promising step, but continued efforts will be essential to win his favor. If successful, Curtis would join Sayin and St. Clair to form a powerhouse quarterback trio, positioning Ohio State as a perennial contender. As the recruitment process unfolds, fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if the Buckeyes can add another jewel to their quarterback crown.

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Football (Premier League)

Ohio State Football Schedule

Ohio Buckeyes
Ohio Buckeyes (Credit: NFL)

In 1980, Ohio State University’s football team, known as the ‘Buckeyes,’ took the field for the first time against Ohio Wesleyan University, a match in which they emerged winners. Since then, the Buckeyes have consistently delivered at the highest levels for their university.

The legacy of current and former Buckeyes extends beyond the college level, as most of the players have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL.  The 2023/24 NFL season consists of 68 former Buckeyes.

Over the course of its history, the Ohio State Buckeyes have won 8 national championships and two conference championships while they were members of the OAC. In 1912, after a stellar performance, they became members of the big ten.

Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes (Credit: Athlon Sports)

In recent times, C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord, Miyan Williams, Master Teague, Jaxon Smith Njigba, and Garrett Wilson have all been instrumental in the enormous success that the Buckeyes’ have achieved.

Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2022/23 season

The 2022/23 season for the Buckeyes was a rather impressive one as they went on an 11-game winning streak before losing the final two games of the season to Michigan and Georgia (23-45 and 41-42, respectively).

The Buckeyes started their 2022 season with a comfortable home win over Notre Dame (21-10) before easing their way past Arkansas State, Toledo, Wisconsin, and Rutgers(45-12, 77-21, 52-21, 49-10).

Their first away game was against Michigan State, which resulted in a 49-20 win for the Buckeyes. Later, they hosted Iowa and won 54-10 before going on to win their next two away games against Penn State and Northwestern (44-31 and 21-7). They then went on to defeat Indiana and Maryland to complete their 11-game win streak (56-14 and 43-30).

Their first loss of the season came in their second last game of the season at home to Michigan (23-45). The season finale ended in a narrow loss to Georgia away (41-42).

Also Read: Why Have the Ohio State Buckeyes Football Only Played 12 Games?

Buckeyes’ 2023/24 schedule

After an impressive 2022/23, the Buckeyes are raring to kickstart their new season. Here is their schedule

Date Opponent Time(Eastern) Streaming Partner H/A
Sep 2, 2023 Indiana 3:30 PM CBS Away
Sep 9, 2023 Youngstown State 12:00 PM BIG Network Home
Sep 16, 2023 Western Kentucky 4:00 PM FOX Home
Sep 23, 2023 Notre Dame 7:30 pm NBC Away
Oct 7, 2023 Maryland TBA TBA Home
Oct 14, 2023 Purdue TBA TBA Away
Oct 21, 2023 Penn State TBA TBA Home
Oct 28, 2023 Wisconsin TBA TBA Away
Nov 4, 2023 Rutgers TBA TBA Away
Nov 11, 2023 Michigan State 7:30 PM NBC Home
Nov 18, 2023 Minnesota TBA TBA Home
Nov 25, 2023 Michigan TBA TBA Away
Dec 2, 2023 Big 10 Championship Game 8:00 PM FOX TBA

The Buckeyes’ roster for the 23/24 season consists of 121 players.

Ticket Purchases

To watch the Buckeyes in action, fans can purchase tickets from the official website of the Ohio Buckeyes. Tickets can be purchased for a single game or for the full season. Prices for single-game tickets vary based on location, seating, and whether or not the buyer has chosen any additional services, such as beverages.

Full-season tickets start at $410. Season ticket holders enjoy access to away, home, and post-season games. The Buckeyes also offer mini-plans where the fans can choose to watch any three games out of the five on offer.

The flex pass, which would allow fans to watch four games for $199, has been sold out. Faculty and staff tickets are also available on the website.

Also Read: The 10 Best Football Quarterbacks in NFL History

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Football (Premier League)

Why Has Ohio State Buckeyes Football Only Played 12 Games?

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is one of the most successful and storied programs in college football history. The team has won seven national championships and has been to the College Football Playoff four times. But this season, the Buckeyes have only played 12 games, a far cry from their usual 13 or 14-game slate.

So why has Ohio State only played 12 games this season? The answer lies in a variety of factors, ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to NCAA regulations to the Big Ten’s scheduling process.

The Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted college sports, and football is no exception. The pandemic caused the Big Ten to postpone its fall season until the spring of 2021, which meant that the Buckeyes had to scrap their entire fall schedule. This included games against Oregon, Michigan State, and Purdue, which were all originally slated for the 2020 season.

NCAA Regulations

The NCAA has strict regulations that govern how many games a team can play in a given season. According to NCAA rules, teams must play a minimum of 12 games to be eligible for a bowl game. This is one of the primary reasons why the Buckeyes have only played 12 games this season, as they would not have been eligible for the College Football Playoff or a bowl game if they had played fewer than 12 games.

Big Ten Scheduling Process

The Big Ten is the only Power Five conference that utilizes a round-robin scheduling format for its football teams. This means that each team plays the other 11 teams in the conference once each season. This format is designed to ensure that the best teams in the conference have the opportunity to play each other and that there is parity among the teams.

However, this format also means that teams will often play the same opponents multiple times in a given season. For example, the Buckeyes have already played Indiana twice this season and will play Michigan twice in the regular season. This means that the Buckeyes have had to sacrifice some non-conference games in order to play their Big Ten opponents multiple times.

The Impact of the Pandemic

The pandemic has had a major impact on the Buckeyes’ schedule this season. The Big Ten had to postpone its fall season until the spring, which meant that the Buckeyes had to scrap their entire fall schedule. This included games against Oregon, Michigan State, and Purdue, which were all originally slated for the 2020 season.

Furthermore, the pandemic has caused the Big Ten to reduce the number of games that teams can play this season. The conference initially planned to allow teams to play a maximum of eight games, but this was later increased to 10. This means that the Buckeyes have had to sacrifice two non-conference games in order to meet the Big Ten’s scheduling requirements.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have only played 12 games this season due to a combination of factors. The most significant factor has been the coronavirus pandemic, which caused the Big Ten to postpone its fall season until the spring. This meant that the Buckeyes had to scrap their entire fall schedule, including games against Oregon, Michigan State, and Purdue. Additionally, NCAA regulations stipulate that teams must play a minimum of 12 games to be eligible for a bowl game. Finally, the Big Ten’s round-robin scheduling process has meant that the Buckeyes have had to sacrifice some non-conference games in order to play their Big Ten opponents multiple times. All of these aspects have contributed to the Buckeyes playing only 12 games this season.