You need strategy to compete in modern recruiting. As it stands, coaches don’t just chase 5-star prospects anymore. They also chase the people those prospects trust. Ohio State figured that out, and now Ole Miss appears to be borrowing Ryan Day’s plan in its pursuit of one of the country’s hottest recruits. Ohio State made […]
The post SEC School Takes Page Out of Ohio State’s Recruiting Playbook to Lure Ryan Day’s 5-Star Target appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Ohio State has a new blue-chip defensive lineman.
Urban Meyer always aimed for excellence. That got him three national championships during his stints with Florida and Ohio State. However, that didn’t come about without sacrifices. The former OSU head coach had to compromise in his duties as a father to achieve perfection on the football field. “We would spend more time with each […]
The post “Broke [My] Heart”: Urban Meyer Makes Painful Admission About Fatherhood During Time at Ohio State appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Every recruiting cycle produces prospects who arrive with enormous expectations. Very few follow the path exactly as fans envision. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.’s journey has been different. The former five-star defensive end from Chaminade-Madonna College Prep in Florida entered Ohio State as one of the premier edge defenders in the 2022 recruiting class. Ranked as one […]
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here. Last year around this time, our […]
Over the years, Ohio State has produced countless S-tier stars on both sides of the football, making it almost impossible for fans to resist imagining dream one-on-one matchups across different eras. That is exactly the debate former Buckeye lockdown cornerback Jeff Okudah found himself in when 10TV Columbus’ Adam King asked whether he could beat […]
The post Former Ohio State CB Settles Jeremiah Smith Debate With Bold Verdict appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Brian Hartline was instrumental in building Ohio State’s WR pipeline to the NFL. For about a decade, he recruited elite prospects and turned them into offensive weapons ready-made for the pros. While doing so, he ascended the ranks at his alma mater, climbing from an off-field analyst to the program’s offensive coordinator. But just like […]
The post Brian Hartline Reveals Wife’s Major Role in Leaving Ryan Day’s OSU for $21M Paycheck appeared first on EssentiallySports .
The last time Ohio State faced the Texas Longhorns, the story was all about Arch Manning’s debut. Julian Sayin got lost in between all the media hype. 2026 is a different story altogether. Sayin is no longer the untested freshman. This is a Heisman finalist returning back to prove that his postseason stumbles are behind […]
The post Julian Sayin Puts Steve Sarkisian & Texas on Notice With Strong Message appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Ryan Day and Ohio State are on a generational recruiting frenzy right now. Just after signing the nation’s fourth-best offensive lineman from the South, the Buckeyes landed another top talent, WR Jordan Donahoo, within 24 hours. Recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett confirmed the Oviedo product’s commitment earlier today. A 3-star wide receiver from Oviedo High School, […]
The post Ryan Day Continues Recruiting Hot Streak With Another 2027 WR Commitment appeared first on EssentiallySports .
BYU football aims to catapult Texas Tech atop the Big 12 in 2026. But claiming the conference championship starts with collecting College Football Recruiting wins. And the Cougars answered that in a huge way Saturday: Beating Ohio State, Oregon and Utah for a major four-star target. Wide receiver Blake Wong handed the Cougars a massive […]
The post 4-star WR commits to BYU over Ohio State, Oregon, Utah appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Ohio State already stole one coveted prospect away from the SEC. Now they’re closing in on an even bigger prize with one of the most dominant DLs in the 2027 class. 5-star California standout Marcus Fakatou is set to announce his commitment on June 29. Ryan Day’s team is among the three heavyweights alongside Georgia […]
The post Ohio State ‘Heavy Favorites’ to Land Nation’s No.2 DL Over Key Factors: Report appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Not everyone initially believed Ryan Day had the momentum for this Mississippi star. For weeks, it felt like Ole Miss had the inside track to keep the 4-star 2027 OL at home. Then Kentucky also surged into the conversation, making a strong case. But Ohio State stayed patient, trusted the relationships they had built, and […]
The post Ryan Day Lands Elite 2027 Commit Who Chose Ohio State Over SEC Powerhouses appeared first on EssentiallySports .
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the best of times or the worst of times. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Floor vs. Ceiling articles […]
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the best of times or the worst of times. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Floor vs. Ceiling articles […]
College athletics have changed so much over the last few years that something like the ‘Tattoogate’ scandal will seem harmless in the current era. However, at the time, the fact that a few Ohio State players signed a few cleats and jerseys and gave away their Big Ten Championship rings blew up into a major […]
The post “Are You Kidding Me?”: Urban Meyer Confirms His Stance on Jim Tressel’s Decision During Ohio State Scandal appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Ohio State fans are learning this lesson the hard way. Being the hometown favorite doesn’t guarantee anything in modern recruiting. For months, Kaylon Bailey looked like another Glenville-to-Columbus success story waiting to happen. The Cleveland native had the offer, the relationships, the pipeline and even a vision from Matt Patricia that fit his skill set. […]
The post Ohio State Loses Defensive Recruit Who Was Central to Matt Patricia’s Plans appeared first on EssentiallySports .
It seems as though Oregon wants to challenge Ohio State for the title of “Receiver University” in the years to come. The commitment of receiver Dakota Guerrant pushed Oregon’s 2027 class into the Top 5 in the nation, a place Dan Lanning and his staff have visited with some frequency the last few years. A […]
It’s the conversation that never goes away. How many teams should be in the College Football Playoff? Four? Eight? Twelve? Sixteen? Sixty-four? One-hundred-thirty-eight? Who wouldn’t love to see a first round matchup between Ohio State and Charlotte? Since its introduction, the College Football Playoff has taken on a life of its own as this behemoth […]
Ohio State star receiver Jeremiah Smith stands alone as the only 99 overall player in EA Sports' College Football 27.
Last summer, Jeremiah Smith arrived as the highest-rated player in EA Sports College Football 26 with a 98 overall rating. One edition later, the brand decided even a 98 wasn’t enough for this Ohio State star. For the 2027 edition, they handed him something no player had ever received at launch. On Wednesday, EA Sports […]
The post Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith Makes EA College Football 27 History at Launch appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith tops the rankings for the highest-rated wide receivers in the upcoming College Football 27 video game.
It was announced on Tuesday that former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel will receive one of the highest honors given by the university when he is added to the Ring of Honor at Ohio Stadium during the 2026 season opener against Ball State. Tressel will be the third head coach in the Ring of […]
EA Sports announced Wednesday that Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will be the first player to ever have a 99 overall rating at launch in the history of its college football video game series when College Football 27 drops next month.
We're down to the final team in our College Football Playoff projections for 2026. Can Ohio State live up to expectations?
The post Predicting the 2026 Playoff: No. 1 Ohio State appeared first on Saturday Down South .
Throughout the year, we will be asking and answering questions about various Ohio State teams, the players, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33, or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE. From now until […]