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First and 10: Penn State brings Ohio State, Ryan Day now-or-never game earlier than expected

Published

1 year ago

October 30, 2024

Press Room

First and 10: Penn State brings Ohio State, Ryan Day now-or-never game earlier than expected

The finish line hasn’t changed for the best team money can buy.

But hear me out: what if national championship or bust at Ohio State barely scratches the first week of November for embattled coach Ryan Day?

What if Ohio State’s all-in, $41 million gamble on the 2024 season ends this weekend in State College, Pennsylvania, long before the national championship game on January 20, 2025?

I don’t want to throw everything sideways before we even sniff the Michigan game, or the Big Ten championship game, or the College Football Playoff, but Ohio State and Day are staring down the barrel right now.

If Ohio State can’t beat Penn State Saturday in a top-five heavyweight game, Day won’t make it to 2025. And Ohio State will have wasted $41 million — on this season alone.

Because if Penn State beats Ohio State, the CFP resume for the Buckeyes will consist of — in a perfect, win-out, 10-victory scenario — a defeat of suddenly surging Indiana. And nothing else.

All for the cool price of a $20 million player roster, and a coaching staff with a combined salary of $21.4 million. That’s $41.4 million — $20 million for players, $10 million for Day’s annual contract, and $11.4 million for assistant coaches.

Hey kids, you too can beat Akron, Western Michigan, Northwestern and a steady diet of nothing, all for the low, low price of $41 million!

In other words, Ohio State is one loss away from a rate of return that rivals new Coke.

In all of two months.

BOWL PROJECTIONS: Oregon now No. 1 as two SEC teams join playoff

PLAYOFF CHAOS: How each conference could be headed for wild finish

2. Trust your process

The strangest part of this all-in moment at Ohio State – from the jump – was Day abandoning everything that made he and the program unique.

All in the name of beating Michigan.

No one in college football coaches quarterbacks and the passing game better than Day. No one develops offenses, and recruits elite players to those offenses, and stresses defenses quite like Day since he arrived in Columbus in 2017 as Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator.

Before last season’s step back with Kyle McCord, Day’s quarterbacks were averaging 41 touchdown passes a season. Forty-one!

But once Michigan won three in a row in the bitter series, once the Wolverines became the last Big Ten team to win a national title, Day buckled to pressure, hired his former coach and mentor and changed the offense.

He wanted to be more physical, and wanted to run the ball and control the clock and — as crazy as this sounds — be more like Michigan. So he hired Chip Kelly away from UCLA, made him offensive coordinator and told him he wanted physicality. Period.

Then Ohio State spent millions to lure elite running back Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss, center Seth McLaughlin from Alabama and quarterback Will Howard — a willing, dangerous runner — from Kansas State.

Fast forward to last weekend’s four-point win over Nebraska in Columbus: the Buckeyes rushed for 64 yards on 31 carries. The offensive line has underachieved, and was affected earlier this month by the season-ending injury to tackle Josh Simmons.

In four Big Ten games, Ohio State is averaging 148.3 yards per game. In nine Big Ten games last season, Ohio State averaged 139.4. And now Day is talking about the need to push the ball downfield in the pass game.

Like he has done all along since 2017.

3. Ohio State’s all-in moment, The Epilogue

This isn’t just about Day and Ohio State and the pressure to win. If Ohio State can’t beat Penn State, the CFP selection committee suddenly joins the pressure-filled chat.

That means The General — real, live former Lieutenant General and CFP director Rich Clark — and his selection committee will be eyeballing Ohio State through a unique lens.

The Buckeyes are clearly one of the three most talented teams in the nation. Ohio State is a mega television brand.

Can you really have your first 12-team playoff, with all the hype and hoopla it brings, without Ohio State?

The first CFP poll is six days away, and a potential two-loss Ohio State — with losses in both of its most difficult games — would have no business in the top 12. But is there any doubt the Buckeyes will be there?

More problematic for the CFP: while a loaded SEC beats up each other over the final month of the season, while the Big 12 and ACC could each have unbeaten teams in their championship games (more on that later), Ohio State will finish the season with games against Purdue, at Northwestern, surprising Indiana (who also hasn’t beaten anyone) and underachieving Michigan.

Woof.

Ohio State can end this meltdown scenario in an all-or-nothing season by beating Penn State, which could be without starting quarterback Drew Allar (knee).

Or it could lose to the Lions, and need the CFP selection committee to save its season.

And Day’s job.

4. Contender or pretender?

We’ve reached November, and it’s now time to break out the tried and true college football argument of “who have they beaten?”

Penn State (7-0)

The good: Lions are 7-0 for the first time since 2019.

The bad: The combined record of West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State, Illinois, UCLA, Southern California and Wisconsin is 25-30.

Iowa State (7-0)

The good: The last time the Cyclones started a season 7-0 was 1938.

The bad: The combined record of North Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas State, Houston, Baylor, West Virginia and Central Florida is 29-27.

Indiana (7-0)

The good: Hoosiers are 8-0 for the first time since 1967.

The bad: The combined record of Florida International, Western Illinois, UCLA, Charlotte, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska and Washington is 26-37.

Pittsburgh (7-0)

The good: The Panthers are 7-0 for the first time since 1982.

The bad: The combined record of Kent State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Youngstown State, North Carolina, California and Syracuse is 25-31.

Clemson (6-1)

The good: Won six in a row since a Week 1 blowout loss to Georgia.

The bad: The combined record of Appalachian State, North Carolina State, Stanford, Florida State, Wake Forest and Virginia is 19-29.

5. The Weekly Five

The five most impactful games of November.

1. Tennessee at Georgia, Nov. 16.

2. Ohio State at Penn State, Nov. 2.

3. Texas at Texas A&M, Nov. 30

4. Kansas State at Iowa State, Nov. 30

5. Clemson at Pittsburgh, Nov. 16

6. An NFL scout’s take on East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr.

An NFL scout analyzes a draft eligible player. The scout requested anonymity to protect the team’s draft preparation.

“You’ve got a unique situation. He tore his ACL in September, and will be probably a couple of months from a full recovery during the draft. Before the injury, you could make the argument that he was the best cornerback in the draft. He’s 6-feet-3 and long and physical. He’s a flat-out burner. Everyone heals differently, and every ACL injury is different. How early in the first round do you take him? You might see someone take him in the first 16 picks. He’s that talented when completely healthy.”

7. Power Play: Notre Dame enters the field

This week’s CFP power poll and four on the outside, and one big thing.

1. Georgia: How many teams can go on the road and play the No.1 team, throw three interceptions, and win by 15? A hint: one.

2. Oregon: This Michigan game could get dicey if the Wolverines can slow tempo with its power-run game.

3. Miami: The final month: Duke, at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, at Syracuse. If Canes aren’t 12-0, something has gone very wrong.

4. Brigham Young: Two week to prepare for the Holy War against the worst Utah team since the early 2000s.

5. Ohio State: Beat Penn State, and likely get another shot at Oregon in the Big Ten championship game.

6. Texas: Open week gives QB Quinn Ewers more time to completely heal from core injury.

7. Penn State: Oregon beat Ohio State with an efficient pass game. That might be a problem for Penn State, with or without injured QB Drew Allar.

8. Tennessee: Get better in the pass game against Kentucky and Mississippi State — to get ready for Georgia.

9. Texas A&M: A dangerous spot this week at South Carolina, which can rush the quarterback and hurry decisions (see: turnovers).

10. Notre Dame: No other way to say it: can’t lose again and reach the CFP.

11. Indiana: A dangerous spot for the Hoosiers on the road against improving Michigan State.

12. Boise State: One of CFB’s overlooked and critical players: QB Maddux Madsen, all 5-feet-10 of him.

13. Iowa State: When QB Behren Morton is on, Texas Tech is as dangerous as any team in the Big 12.

14. Clemson: We’ll have a better idea of Clemson (and Miami) after Louisville rolls into Death Valley.

15. Kansas State: Wildcats don’t necessarily do anything really well, but are 3-0 in one-possession games.

16. Pittsburgh: The goal: affect electric SMU QB Kevin Jennings. Duke did it (3 INTs), and still lost last week.

8. Mail bonding: Miami looks like Michigan, circa 2021

Matt: Do we really know how good Miami is? Will we know even if they’re 13-0 after running through the ACC? — David Drake, Orlando.

David:

Miami looks a lot like 2021 Michigan: a young and talented team figuring out a championship run for the first time in years. It doesn’t mean the Canes play like Michigan (they don’t), but it does mean they can cause problems for anyone.

That Michigan team lost a game in late October, and hadn’t beaten a ranked team until the last game of the regular season when it finally broke an eight-game losing streak to Ohio State.

The difference between that young Michigan team and Miami: Canes quarterback Cam Ward. He’s so dynamic and such problem for defenses, he can change games with one rare throw.

Michigan had a caretaker (Cade McNamara) at the most important position on the field, and it showed in the CFP semifinal blowout loss to Georgia. With Ward, Miami won’t get blown out by anyone this season.

9. Numbers game

8. We’re not that far from having a championship Saturday where all eight power conference teams playing on the last weekend of the regular season are locks to make the CFP — win or lose.

But all four conference championship games in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 would still have significant impact on the 12-team CFP. Why? Seeding.

Winners earn first-round byes, and one or more losers could fall far enough in the final CFP rankings (behind at-large SEC and Big Ten teams) and not host first round games.

How’s that for a day of importance?

The narrative that championship games will lose drama with the 12-team field isn’t remotely a reality. If anything, they’ve become the football version of conference basketball tournaments that lead to overall NCAA tournament seeding ― and the sweet symphony of controversy.

10. The last word: Army’s CFP hopes

If you think Florida State had an argument to play in last year’s CFP, wait and see the angst if Army is 13-0 and American Conference champions.

The Cadets would be unbeaten in a less competitive conference than Boise State, and would have a better win (vs. Notre Dame) than the Broncos.

But watch the CFP poll closely. Boise State will be the highest-ranked Group of Five team in next Tuesday’s first poll of the season. Army, whose combined opponent record is 18-35, will more than likely be the second — but much lower.

All it will take is a win over Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium on Nov. 23 to move Army to the No.12 position in the CFP poll — no matter what Boise State does.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

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Ohio State Falls to No. 13 Illinois, 88-80, Despite Best Efforts of Bruce Thornton

Published

41 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State Falls to No. 13 Illinois, 88-80, Despite Best Efforts of Bruce Thornton

Bruce Thornton’s best efforts weren’t enough.

Ohio State’s longtime star guard delivered another signature performance in his team’s uphill climb against No. 13 Illinois on Tuesday. Thornton racked up 34 points on 13-of-17 shooting, his second 30-point performance of the season. But he was still just a man. The Fighting Illini had a flight of well-coordinated, sharp-shooting soldiers.

TEAM	1	2	FINAL
#13 ILLINOIS	48	40	88
OHIO STATE	42	38	80

Illinois (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) led the final 16 minutes of its 88-80 win over Ohio State (8-2, 1-1), keeping the Buckeyes at arm’s length most of the way despite only twice leading by double-digits.

Four Illini reached double-figures. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler paced the squad with 23 points, trailed closely by fellow guard Andrej Stojakovic (17 points) and forward David Mirkovic (22 points). Center Zvonimir Ivisic added 13 points.

Devin Royal, Christoph Tilly and John Mobley Jr. all hit double figures for Ohio State to join Thornton, but did so at the cost of a combined 12-of-36 shooting (33.3%) and 2-of-16 from 3 (12.5%). Tilly fouled out of the game in the final minute.

First Half

ILLINOIS	STAT	OHIO STATE
88	POINTS	80
24-54 (44.4%)	FGM-FGA (PCT.)	28-61 (45.9%)
11-27 (40.7%)	3PM-3PA (PCT.)	9-28 (32.1%)
29-32 (90.6%)	FTM-FTA (PCT.)	15-21 (71.4%)
9	TURNOVERS	6
37	TOTAL REBOUNDS	30
9	OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS	7
28	DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS	23
15	BENCH POINTS	2
3	BLOCKS	2
0	STEALS	3
12	ASSISTS	11

Bruce Thornton and Christoph Tilly worked to keep Ohio State afloat in the early stretches.

Thornton drained a trio of triples, stepping into two in transition, including a contested look at least seven feet beyond the arc. Tilly opened the game’s scoring with an offensive rebound he stuck back, then showcased a nice arsenal of dribble moves and spins to attack the basket, drawing a foul once and making a layup another time.

But the Illinois shooters were orange hot. The Illini drained four consecutive 3-point attempts, three from Mirkovic and one from Ivisic, to charge ahead 24-15. Thornton answered with a corner 3 off an inbounds pass and a steal for a coast-to-coast layup, then the Illini strung together four points to push their lead back to eight.

Thornton remained undeterred. He rose above a strong contest for a baseline jumper, pump-faked an Illinois defender to make him fly by to drain another 3-pointer. Then he flew past a defender for a transition layup and canned another triple from the left wing to give Ohio State its first lead in more than 11 minutes at 34-33.

Chants of “Bruce” rang about the Schottenstein Center as the crowd got to its loudest volume of the night, rising to get their star senior a standing ovation. Thornton scored 24 points in the first half and started 9-of-9 shooting, including a 6-of-6 mark from distance.

The momentum didn’t maintain. Illinois launched an 11-0 run capped by a circus 3-pointer from Wagler and carried a 48-42 lead into halftime, though Devin Royal beat the buzzer to get the deficit back to six for Ohio State.

Second Half

Thornton finally got a bit of sustained scoring support to start the second half. Brandon Noel made a 3-pointer, and John Mobley Jr. connected on two floaters in the lane before freshman forward Amare Bynum got on the board with a nice drive and finish. A gorgeous double-clutch layup by Thornton tied the ballgame at 53.

The Buckeyes went 3:17 without changing the number in their score column as Illinois pushed back ahead 61-56. Tilly picked up his fourth foul during the stretch, impacting Ohio State’s lineup, in a game laden with foul calls. A Wagler 3-pointer and two Ivisic free throws extended the Illini edge to 66-58.

Fouls piled up on both sides. Exchanges of free throws kept the margin relatively the same as both teams were in the double bonus midway through the period. Illinois proved far more efficient at that game, however. A spin into a floater by Stojakovic pushed the Illinois lead back to three scores again with under six minutes to play.

It bounced back and forth between a two- and three-score lead several more times for the Illini, each reextension feeling like a tiny dagger plunged into the Buckeyes’ collective heart.

Ohio State went to a full-court press in the final two minutes and chipped the lead back down to a single score on a layup by Devin Royal, which made it 79-76 with less than 75 seconds remaining. But a friendly bounce – for Illinois, that is – on a 3-pointer by Ivisic stuck one final dagger in at 82-76 with 45 seconds to play.

What’s Next?

Ohio State plays the first of back-to-back neutral-site games with power-conference opponents, taking on West Virginia in Cleveland on Saturday. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.

Game Notes

The Buckeyes held a “Teddy Bear Toss” at halftime, with fans throwing stuffed animals onto the court to donate to children through the Ronald McDonald House.
Illinois shot 7-of-14 (50%) from 3 in the first half.
The contest featured 48 total personal fouls called between the two teams.
Ohio State is now 77-110 all-time against Illinois.

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When experience doesn’t clock out: seasoned Northeast Ohio leaders often reemerge in public service

Published

13 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

When experience doesn’t clock out: seasoned Northeast Ohio leaders often reemerge in public service

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Sharon Dumas had been retired for more than three years when Cleveland Heights’ Interim Mayor Tony Cuda tapped her this fall to be his interim city administrator.

The move followed a familiar solution that public entities turn to when facing challenges: bringing back experienced public servants with decades of institutional knowledge.

Dumas, who retired from Cleveland City Hall in 2022 after more than 40 years in public and private service, agreed to return through the end of Cuda’s interim term, which runs until Dec. 31. Her appointment was Cuda’s first official act after voters recalled Mayor Kahlil Seren in September.

The move comes as Cleveland Heights continues to navigate its transition to a strong-mayor form of government, marked by a contentious 2024 budget process and temporary spending plans earlier this year. Cuda said his priority is stabilizing operations and laying groundwork for a fiscally responsible 2026 budget.

Dumas brings deep experience in municipal finance and administration. She served as Cleveland’s finance director for 15 years and as chief of staff for five years under former Mayor Frank Jackson, managing the city’s $1.3 billion budget and overseeing major fiscal reforms.

Her return reflects a broader trend in Northeast Ohio: veteran leaders stepping back into public roles or consulting after retirement. Just a handful of examples include:

Ken Silliman, former chief of staff to Cleveland mayors Michael White and Frank Jackson, later led the Gateway Economic Development Corp. and authored a book on stadium financing.
Eric Gordon, who spent 12 years as CEO of Cleveland schools, now heads Positive Education Program after a stint at Cuyahoga Community College.
Dan Horrigan, Akron’s former mayor, briefly served as Cleveland Heights city administrator earlier this year before resigning amid internal conflict.
Jay Westbrook, a longtime Cleveland council member, works with Western Reserve Land Conservancy on housing stability and neighborhood revitalization.
Lee Fisher, former Ohio attorney general and lieutenant governor under Gov. Ted Strickland, left Cleveland State University’s law school to become president of Baldwin Wallace University in July.
Ronald Adrine, who served 36 years on Cleveland Municipal Court, remains active in justice reform through statewide committees and advocacy groups.

Dumas’ appointment underscores Cleveland Heights’ reliance on institutional knowledge as it seeks to restore trust and stabilize operations ahead of a pivotal election year.

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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoes child work bill

Published

1 day ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoes child work bill

OHIO (WJW) — Governor Mike DeWine is standing by his veto of Senate Bill 50, which would’ve permitted 14 and 15-year-olds to work after 7 p.m.

“I did not see a compelling need, frankly, to change that,” he said. “It is pretty much the law in this country at 7 o’clock, so this would be a rather dramatic change in the law.”

The proposed law would have extended the work window for teenagers until 9 p.m. year-round, including school nights, with parental permission.

State Representative Mark Johnson believes it would’ve been good for teenagers.

“There’s so much responsibility to be learned in a work environment,” he said. “We’re raising an entire generation that goes through high school and goes through college even without a lick of work environment experience.”

Johnson said “guardrails” are already in place to prevent students from overworking.

Teenagers must have a work permit signed by both the school administrator and a parent or guardian, which can be revoked if their grades fall.

“They can only work three hours a day and a total of 18 hours a week,” Johnson said.

The Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance came out in support of it, arguing that it would help businesses facing staffing shortages in retail and the food service industry.

“Early work changed my life. I started working, actually, at the age of 14, and you know that experience taught me customer service, communication skills and responsibility,” said Donovan O’Neil, State Director of Americans for Prosperity Ohio.

But not everyone agrees, and some think the change could become a slippery slope that infringes upon child labor laws.

“We have been fighting for child labor laws for so long. Why are we changing stuff? I feel like this is regressing backwards,” said Jamie Shumaker, Executive Director of AFL-CIO Central Ohio.

Shumaker believes kids should focus on their education and supports the veto.

“They’re in school, they play sports, they have homework. I know how exhausting it is,” she said.

Despite the veto, the law remains in play, with lawmakers deciding their next move.

Rep. Johnson said both a legislative override and a compromise of 8 p.m. are being considered.

A legislative override would have to start in the Ohio Senate and must be supported by the House.

That action could take months.

Johnson said if the Senate moves forward, they have the votes in the House to support it.

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