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

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12 months ago

October 30, 2024

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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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What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Published

2 hours ago

October 20, 2025

Press Room

What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Why do central Ohio communities trick or treat on nights other than Halloween?

This week’s What’s Up With That? is a personal one, as it’s a query I’ve had since I moved to Columbus nearly seven years ago. What’s the origin of central Ohio’s complex (to outsiders) tradition of holding trick or treating (or Beggars Night, as some call it) on nights other than Oct. 31?

It is a question that has been asked and answered by The Columbus Dispatch before. But to save you a journey through our archives, I’ll recap the history here.

Why does central Ohio schedule trick-or-treating on nights other than Halloween?

Up until 2005, when the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission adopted the current system for recommending when communities should hold trick-or-treating, Columbus hadn’t held the event on Halloween itself in 90 years, according to past Dispatch reporting.

Columbus historically held a raucous Downtown Halloween party on Oct. 31, according to our archives, prompting the preference for Oct. 30 as the day kids could collect candy. That party was discontinued in the 1950s over too much revelry, but Oct. 30 trick-or-treating persisted.

MORPC took on its role as trick-or-treat scheduler in 1993 and adopted the current system it uses to choose the date in 2005. MORPC’s recommendation is just that; communities are still free to set their own trick-or-treating days and times.

When is central Ohio trick-or-treating in 2025?

Here’s MORPC’s system: When Halloween falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, trick or treat typically takes place the Thursday before Oct. 31 in central Ohio. When Halloween falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, expect costumed kids on the day itself.

In 2015, a MORPC spokesman told the Dispatch the system was meant to increase convenience for families. Friday or Saturday night trick or treating could conflict with football (as could Sunday, for that matter, although in central Ohio it’s largely the first two putting a dent in people’s calendars).

Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, the recommended trick-or-treat date is Oct. 30, and cities and towns have official candy-calling hours of 6-8 p.m.

But there are exceptions. Here’s a look at which Franklin County communities are going their own way:

Bexley: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Grandview Heights: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
Groveport: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Madison Township: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Worthington: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

You can see other communities’ hours in this list we published in early October.

Have a question about Columbus? I’ll find your answer

What other weird central Ohio traditions would you like to have explained? I’m happy to track down the information. Or just curious what that development is, or why the traffic pattern you hate is the way it is?

Email ekennedy@dispatch.com and I will see what I can do.

Eleanor Kennedy is the senior digital director of the Columbus Dispatch. She can breached at ekennedy@dispatch.com.

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Where is Ohio State football ranked in major polls after Week 8?

Published

20 hours ago

October 19, 2025

Press Room

Where is Ohio State football ranked in major polls after Week 8?

Ohio State showed no sign of loosening its grip on the No. 1 ranking this weekend.

The Buckeyes routed Wisconsin in a 34-0 win that marked the third time in four weeks that they prevailed on the road in the Big Ten to preserve their unblemished record.

At 7-0, they are one of only six unbeaten teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Below is their ranking in the major polls after Week 8:

Ohio State football rankings after Week 8

US LBM Coaches Poll

The Buckeyes are the consensus No. 1 among the coaches, receiving all 65 first-place votes following Miami’s loss to Louisville on Oct. 17.

The Hurricanes, who were previously unbeaten, had two first-place votes last week prior to the upset.

The rest of the top-five includes Indiana at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 3, Alabama at No. 4 and Georgia at No. 5.

AP Top 25

Ohio State received 60 out of the 66 first-place votes in the AP poll with second-ranked Indiana getting the remaining six.

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.

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Disappointment hits Wisconsin again in 34-0 shutout loss to Ohio State

Published

2 days ago

October 18, 2025

Press Room

Disappointment hits Wisconsin again in 34-0 shutout loss to Ohio State

The Wisconsin Badgers were shut out for the second consecutive week on Saturday, losing 34-0 to the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium to fall to 2-5 on the season and 0-4 in Big Ten play.

It was a tough game for the Badgers from the start, as they couldn’t get any offensive consistency, having four three-and-outs, another punt, and an interception in the first half.

Meanwhile, Ohio State flourished, scoring on three of its first four opening possessions and playing strong complementary football from start to finish.

“If I said it once at the end of the game, this’ll be the fifth or sixth time I’ve said it: I’m incredibly disappointed in a lot of things. Obviously, the scoreboard is probably the most notable,” head coach Luke Fickell said after the game. “To not find a way to put points on the board will never give us a chance. We know we have to be able to do that and we have to get a hell of a lot better at it.

Let’s get into our recap of the game.

The Badgers began the game with the ball, looking to put some early points up on the talented Ohio State defense, but the troubles for the offense continued as they have all season. Wisconsin went three-and-out to start the game, unable to generate any type of rhythm or momentum.

Ohio State, led by sophomore Julian Sayin, started the game on fire. Sayin connected on eight passes on the first drive for 95 yards and a touchdown. The score came on a 3rd & 12 when junior receiver Carnell Tate climbed the ladder to catch the ball over Wisconsin safeties Matt Jung and Austin Brown.

Down seven early, the offense needed to respond and retake the momentum. Wisconsin’s second drive started promisingly with a huge 15-yard catch by tight end Jackson McGohan. That drive was quickly derailed, however, when a dropped pass by Cade Yacamelli fell right into Sonny Styles’ hands for the first interception of the game. Styles returned it to the Wisconsin 43, setting up the Ohio State offense in a prime position to go up two scores.

The Badgers defense stood their ground though, allowing only a single first down. Ricardo Hallman came up with a big pass deflection in the endzone against Jeremiah Smith on 1st down, and from there, the front seven kept the Buckeyes from advancing. Sebastian Cheeks and Mason Posa combined for a sack on third down, forcing Ohio State to settle for a field goal and a 10-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter.

The Badgers offense remained stagnant—a common sight this season. With three straight run plays, Dilin Jones and Cade Yacamelli were getting beaten up by the Ohio State front four. Wisconsin punted after another three-and-out, their second in three drives. Through three possessions, the Badgers had totaled just 34 yards and an interception.

With a chance to go up three scores, Julian Sayin did not disappoint. Starting at their own 11-yard line, the Buckeyes picked up three first downs and 54 yards in just three plays. Following a couple of short runs from Bo Jackson, Sayin connected with Carnell Tate for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Similar to last week against Iowa, the Badgers faced a steep uphill battle, down 17-0 in the first quarter.

On their fourth drive, the Badgers finally showed some life, picking up three first downs and driving into Ohio State territory. Unfortunately, a set of penalties created a 3rd and 17 that ended with an incomplete pass when Hunter Simmons’ hand was hit as the ball came out. While the drive didn’t end well, there were signs of life. On 3rd and 12, Simmons found Lance Mason over the middle for 24 yards, and the play before saw Simmons execute the bootleg well, connecting with Mason for seven yards and a first down. Lance Mason has been one of the very few bright spots in the offense this season. Interestingly, the Badgers moved away from targeting Vinny Anthony and Trech Kekahuna, with neither receiving a single target through the first four drives.

The defense continued to battle, getting multiple stops following the first three scoring drives. With a 3rd and 2 at the Ohio State 22-yard line, the Badgers came up big, stuffing the run up the middle for one yard and forcing the punt. Freshman linebacker Cooper Catalano made the play on third down, shooting the gap and standing Bo Jackson up to prevent the first.

With a stop and some momentum finally on their side, the crowd was looking for offensive production, but it remained nonexistent. The Badgers went three and out for the third time in their first five drives, giving Ohio State another chance before halftime. The Buckeyes responded immediately. Superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith caught three straight passes totaling 27 yards. Following a set of rushes and precise passes from Sayin, the Buckeyes faced a 3rd and 4 at the Wisconsin 20-yard line. The Badgers defense came up big, forcing a fourth down and a subsequent missed field goal.

Still down 17-0 with one minute left in the half, the Badgers got the ball back but were clearly ready to take it to halftime. Wisconsin ran the ball three times before punting for the fourth time. Out of seven first-half drives, four ended with three-and-outs.

The Buckeyes offense was on fire in the first half, totaling over 200 passing yards and two touchdown passes. However, the Badgers’ run defense held strong, limiting the Buckeyes to just 35 first-half rushing yards.

Ohio State’s offense picked up right where it left off in the second half, driving downfield to the Wisconsin 17-yard line. Two passes to Carnell Tate—including a big 17-yard pitch and catch on 4th & 4—put Ohio State in prime scoring position. The Badgers defense stood firm as Christian Alliegro and Mason Reigor combined for a big 4-yard tackle for loss, setting up a long third down and eventually another field goal. Julian Sayin went 6-for-6 on the drive, totaling 60 yards, but was unable to convert in the red zone.

Unfortunately, the Badgers offense and Hunter Simmons couldn’t even come close to the red zone. On the following drive, Wisconsin finally committed to the pass game, but two straight incompletions led to yet another three-and-out. Without complementary football, it’s hard to win a game, but without an offense capable of gaining 100 total yards, it’s impossible. The defense continued to work hard and fight all game long, to no avail.

The Wisconsin linebacking corps also saw significant substitution. Look out for next week, as one of the freshman linebackers may take the start over Tackett Curtis, who did not have a great overall game today.

Ohio State continued to dominate offensively, scoring following another Wisconsin three-and-out. While the defense initially forced a fourth down, Ryan Day didn’t back down and called a quarterback sneak, getting the first down and letting Sayin take it from there. He connected with Bo Jackson and Quincy Porter for gains of 16 and 22 yards, respectively. Running back Isaiah West also had a big 15-yard rush to put the Buckeyes at the Wisconsin 4-yard line. From there, Sayin connected on a tight end pop pass for a touchdown—his third passing touchdown of the game—putting the Buckeyes up 27-0 with a minute left in the third quarter.

The Badgers were backed up on the ensuing possession. After a third-down sack on Hunter Simmons that ended his day, Wisconsin faced a 4th and 19. Looking for a lifeline, freshman punter Sean West came up with a huge run, breaking tackles and fighting his way to a first down—the second biggest offensive play of the game. The energy brought by the punter was quickly killed by the offense, and the ball was punted right back to the Buckeyes.

Sayin was ready to put the final nail in the coffin, driving downfield, this time on the ground. Running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West carried the ball a combined seven times for 33 yards. The icing on the cake was a beautiful pass from Julian Sayin to Brandon Innis on a deep crosser at the back of the endzone, putting the Buckeyes up 34-0.

At this point, Wisconsin fans were extremely frustrated, and the “Fire Fickell” chants started again. Some fans in the student section even mimicked what Oklahoma State fans were doing, taking their shirts off and swinging them over their heads.

With one last chance to avoid the shutout, the Badgers offense—with Danny O’Neil at the helm—tried to put together some sort of last-ditch scoring attempt. With running backs Dilin Jones and Durrion Dupree out, Gideon Ituka got the nod, rushing for 30 yards on three attempts. The drive stalled yet again. On 4th and 5, Danny O’Neil couldn’t find anyone past the sticks and threw a hospital ball to Trech for no gain.

Ohio State came into Camp Randall and made it their second home, shutting out the Badgers and putting up 34 points. The Badgers look to have a long season ahead and a lot of changes coming their way during the offseason if they want to compete in the Big Ten.

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