Graphic by Ohio State Athletics
Ohio State Athletics has had a busy December and we’re only on the 11th day of the month. Football is having the most news you can without playing or being in the College Football Playoff. Add in the hockey and basketball teams of both the men and women and the Buckeyes have a lot going on.
Portal Pandemonium
The biggest news of the week occurred on Monday with Kyle McCord entering the transfer portal. McCord started all 12 games for Ohio State this season and threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns. Like with most transfer portal cases that are this high profile, there have been plenty of rumors as to why, and at the time of this writing, late Sunday night and way too early Monday morning, there is even a projection of where he’s going.
It’s been reported that McCord will transfer to a fellow Big Ten school in Nebraska. That’ll make the October 26th, 2024 game between the Buckeyes and the Cornhuskers a fiery contest to say the least.
Someone else who is said to have been visiting Lincoln, Nebraska was another well-known name who jumped in the portal with McCord and that’s wide receiver Julian Fleming.
12 other Buckeyes have also entered the transfer portal. Tight end Joe Royer, power running back Chip Trayanum who scored the winning touchdown against Notre Dame, offensive tackle Jakob James, running back Evan Pryor, and offensive lineman Victor Cutler on the offensive side of the ball. On defense defensive backs Jyaire Brown, Kye Stokes, Cam Martinez, and Ryan Turner. Defensive end Omari Abor, linebacker Reid Carrico, and kicker Parker Lewis round out the current list. The recruiting trail and going into the transfer portal will be bigger than usual for Ohio State to replace these departures.
NFL Draft
Another running back, Miyan Williams, whose season ended early due to injury has called it a career in college football. Williams will enter the NFL Draft and is the first of many expected Buckeyes to declare with eligibility still left to use. Names like Biletnikoff Winner Marvin Harrison Jr., running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau are all likely to go pro.
Marv Keeps Buckeye Nation in Suspense
Buckeye Quarterbacks
Devin Brown is embracing the fact that he will be QB1 for the Cotton Bowl and has a huge chance to seize control of the starting job at one of the best schools in college football. He posted a meme of burning ships, implying he’s ready to burn the boats (a saying in history that means it’s time to conquer or die). He also said life is a gamble and he’s ready to toss the dice. As a Buckeye, it’s refreshing, as it feels like Ohio State has somehow been holding back the past three seasons. They need to embrace the do-or-die, go-down shooting, all-in and all-out mentality and get a much-needed win and momentum going into a season of do-or-dies in 2024.
Basket Bucks
Men
The basketball world seems to be more of the same this season. After going 7-1 they beat instate opponent Miami (OH) (Butler County’s own) this past Wednesday they went to State College to take on Penn State. The Buckeyes would blow an 18-point second-half lead, on the road in the Big Ten, and to Penn State. This seems to be par for the course for the Buckeyes in the Hotlmann Era. They will at the least now go 681 days between conference road wins after their loss to a 5-5 team that had been on a five-game losing streak. The Buckeyes are now 8-2 on the year.
Women
The #12 Buckeye Women’s Basketball team faced the Ohio Bobcats followed by the Penn State Nittany Lions. They clobbered the Bobcats 85-45. #25 Penn State gave them a tough game but the Buckeye women rallied in overtime to beat them 94-84 behind 31 points from Jacy Sheldon. They are now 8-1 and have won eight straight after a loss in their season opener.
Hockey Bucks
Men
The Men’s Hockey team had a good weekend against #10 Minnesota. Despite a close loss on Friday night by a score of 5-4, they rebounded on Saturday to take the Gophers to overtime and would come away with the 2-1 shootout win. The Buckeyes are in a bit of a rebuilding year and are 5-8-4 and will return to action on December 30th at home against Mercyhurst.
Women
The Women’s Hockey team is still on fire. They beat Minnesota State 6-1 on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday. They are now 16-2-0, and 13-1-0 in conference play, as they will retain their spot as the #1 team in the nation as they skate toward third straight Frozen Four and their second national championship in three seasons!
