Ohio
Did changes to Michigan week routine help Ohio State end rivalry skid?
Before Ohio State snapped a four-game losing streak to archrival Michigan with a 27-9 win on Nov. 29, it made a series of changes to the week of preparation.
It began with moving the marching band’s visit to practice to an idle week in October to taking a flight to Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes had ridden busses to southeast Michigan unlike most of their destinations in the Big Ten.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day sought for the leadup to The Game to mirror a typical week in the regular season. The stakes of the rivalry had been high enough for his players.
“You want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the routine the routine,” Day said. “There’s enough emotion that goes into that game. I felt like that was important.”
It wasn’t the first time Day had tinkered with the script to Michigan week, which has included the Thanksgiving holiday since 2010. In 2022, he pushed back Senior Tackle, the tradition in practice in which seniors hit a blocking sled for the last time, to the postseason.
But this year’s changes were the most significant as Day weighed the makeup of his team and their recent setbacks in the rivalry.
The stunning upset loss to the Wolverines last season marked a tipping point as they made adjustments off the field to a week that never lacked for festivities.
“There were just a lot of things that were different and may have thrown us off on our routine,” Day said. “We’re a routine-oriented culture, and I felt like it was the best thing to do. Was that the difference in the end? Who knows. But everything matters.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
Ohio
Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second time in two years, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Steubenville Police Department have joined forces to combat human trafficking crimes.
In October, the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals for sex trafficking offenses, including men from Follansbee and St. Clairsville.
Earlier, in July 2024, 10 men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia were apprehended and charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools.
“It just goes to show that human trafficking happens everywhere,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This isn’t a big city thing, it happens in small towns, it happens out in the country. It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us.
“I am hopeful that the message is going out around Ohio and Steubenville and the Mahoning Valley — Don’t Buy Sex in Ohio!”
He also highlighted the support provided to survivors during these operations.
“We always have social service providers that partner with us that are on site. So, whether it’s something simple like a meal or a shower or something as necessary as an addiction treatment bed — we’re there to try and help provide the resource,” Yost added.
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For those affected by human trafficking, a victim services directory is available here.
Ohio
3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials
NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three kids, ages 12, 11, and 8, led Ohio police on a chase in a stolen car on Saturday, according to police.
According to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, an 11-year-old was driving a car that was stolen from Parma, WEWS reported.
Officers chased the car on Harvard Avenue west over the Denison Bridge. Shortly after the chase began, the car crashed into a house on Denison Avenue, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Newburgh Heights PD said two brothers, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, along with a 12-year-old, began running from the police.
After police caught them, the kids told officers they watched YouTube videos to learn how to steal cars, police said.
According to the department, the boys were released to their parents, and police will file charges in juvenile court.
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Ohio
Ohio State vs Miami betting odds, point spread for Cotton Bowl game
Heading to Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State enters the New Year’s Eve College Football Playoff game as a multi-score favorite to beat Miami, according to BetMGM on Dec. 22.
Ohio State is the No. 2 seed in the 2025 CFP and received a first-round bye. After beating No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Miami will face the Buckeyes for the first time since 2011. The Hurricanes are the lone ACC representative in the CFP field.
Miami intercepted Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed in the end zone with less than 30 seconds remaining to secure a first-round playoff win.
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See the betting odds for the Cotton Bowl below.
What is the point spread for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
As of Dec. 22, BetMGM’s point spread for the Cotton Bowl between the Buckeyes and Hurricanes is -10 in favor of Ohio State.
What is the moneyline for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
Ohio State has -375 odds to win against Miami in the Cotton Bowl on BetMGM.
What is over/under on total points for the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl?
The over/under for the Cotton Bowl game is set at 42.5 points.
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