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Ohio drought: Did Hurricane Helene remnants alleviate dry conditions around the state?

Published

1 year ago

October 3, 2024

Ohio drought: Did Hurricane Helene remnants alleviate dry conditions around the state?

Ohio’s ongoing historic drought lessened over the past week after remnants of Hurricane Helene swept over the state, according to a new map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

A record-high of 1.44 inches of rain fell on Columbus Friday and showers continued into the weekend.

Franklin County is no longer considered in an exceptional drought, the worst possible dry condition, according to the drought monitor’s newest map. However, a significant chunk of the county remains in the severe to extreme drought.

Extreme drought conditions also disappeared entirely from southwest Ohio in the new map, and a large band of exceptional drought has receded to southeast Ohio.

Only 2% of the state was drought-free on Sept. 24. Now, 14% of the state is clear of dry conditions, mostly in south-central and northeast Ohio, according to U.S. Drought Monitor Data.

Significant swathes of the state have had their drought downgraded from severe to moderate, and abnormally dry conditions—the least severe drought level—have become more common.

Ohio’s drought severity and coverage index, a score from 0 to 500 that measures the state’s general drought levels, fell from 298 to 212 over the past week.

While the previous weekend’s rain has helped, the state will need several rainfall events to exit the drought fully, an NWS meteorologist previously told The Dispatch.

There isn’t much rain in the National Weather Service’s upcoming forecast. Here’s what to expect.

Columbus weather for the week of Oct. 3, 2024

Thursday: It’ll be sunny with a high near 79.
Thursday night: It’ll be mostly clear with a low around 52.
Friday: There will be patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, it’ll be mostly sunny with a high near 79.
Friday Night: It’ll be mostly clear with a low around 53.
Saturday: It’ll be sunny with a high near 76.
Saturday Night: It’ll be clear with a low around 53.
Sunday: There’s a chance of showers after 2 p.m. It’ll be sunny with a high near 84. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday Night: There’s a chance of showers before 8 p.m. It’ll be mostly clear with a low around 50. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: It’ll be sunny with a high near 69.
Monday Night: It’ll be clear with a low around 45.
Tuesday: It’ll be sunny with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: It’ll be clear with a low around 44.
Wednesday: It’ll be sunny with a high near 69.

NHart@dispatch.com

@NathanRHart

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AP top 25 poll: Indiana jumps Ohio State in Bowl Season college football rankings

Published

3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Press Room

AP top 25 poll: Indiana jumps Ohio State in Bowl Season college football rankings

There may be no better job in college football history than what Curt Cignetti has accomplished, taking an Indiana program that had the most all-time losses to a 13-0 season and Big Ten championship after beating reigning champ Ohio State.

As a result, AP top 25 voters were left with an easy decision when compiling the updated college football rankings moving into the playoff and bowl season.

They assigned all of their first-place votes to the Hoosiers, who predictably moved to the top of the rankings in a notable shake-up around the top-five that also saw SEC champion Georgia rise.

Where does that leave everything else in the updated top 25 college football rankings heading into the 2025 postseason?

Let’s take a look at what teams moved up, and down, and who stayed put moving into the College Football Playoff and Bowl Season, according to AP top 25 voters.

AP top 25 rankings for Bowl Season

First-place votes in parentheses

Indiana (66)
Georgia
Ohio State
Texas Tech
Oregon
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Miami
Alabama
BYU
Vanderbilt
Texas
Utah
USC
Tulane
Michigan
James Madison
Virginia
Arizona
Navy
North Texas
Georgia Tech
Missouri

How did we do? Our prediction for the AP top 25 rankings

AP top 25 biggest movers

Indiana (Up 1). The historic Hoosiers moved up 1 spot from No. 2 to the top of the rankings after finishing a 13-0 season by beating undefeated Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship.

Ohio State (Down 2). The reigning national champions were just three points worse than Indiana on the field, and despite the tough loss to end the season, are still a favorite to win another title.

Georgia (Up 1). For the second-straight year, the Bulldogs are SEC champions, this time taking out Alabama to move up 1 place in the rankings and clinch a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

Miami (Up 2). The idle Hurricanes took advantage of losses by higher-ranked Alabama and BYU to move back into the top-ten as playoff selection nears.

Tulane (Up 4). Champions of the American Conference, the Green Wave are the highest-ranked Group of Five team in the playoff, too.

North Texas (Down 3). Runners-up in the American Conference, the Mean Green failed to get their offense together against Tulane, but have done enough to stay in the rankings.

Other teams receiving votes

These teams got votes on AP top 25 ballots, but not enough to be included in the rankings this week

Houston 82, Iowa 74, Tennessee 61, New Mexico 21, Duke 18, Boise State 16, UNLV 10, USF 10, SMU 8, Arizona St. 6, Louisville 6, UConn 5, Washington 4, Pittsburgh 3, Kennesaw State 3, Illinois 2, Iowa State 2, Western Michigan 1, TCU 1.

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

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Indiana football undisputed No. 1, Big Ten champions over Ohio State

Published

15 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Indiana football undisputed No. 1, Big Ten champions over Ohio State

INDIANAPOLIS — There was a lot of losing over the last 80 years — the third-most losses in the sport’s history — but Curt Cignetti has brought Indiana football to the top of college football.

It was far from perfect, but the Hoosiers clinched their first outright Big Ten championship since 1945 in their first championship game appearance and in front a predominately Hoosiers crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium. When Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding’s 27-yard attempt was pushed wide left with 2:48 to play, it left the ball in Fernando Mendoza’s hands.

Mendoza threw a game-clinching 33-yard pass to Charlie Becker on third-and-6, leaving Ohio State with all but one timeout spent and a chance to run out the clock. They punted it and pinned Ohio State without timeouts at its own 14 with 18 seconds left, and the defense took care of the rest.

Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the Hoosiers’ historic win means.

What I liked in IU football’s win vs Ohio State in Big Ten championship game

Pressure. Julian Sayin hadn’t seen it like this yet in 2025. Ohio State’s quarterback entered play Saturday night having taken just six sacks all season, and two in a game just once (Purdue, Nov. 8). Indiana rolled up three in the first half alone, plus more productive pressure, hurrying Sayin enough to get and largely keep him out of rhythm. It was a big part of the reason why Indiana actually outgained Ohio State in the first half.
Mendoza dialing it up deep. Indiana tried a pair of deep shots in the first half that Fernando Mendoza couldn’t quite find. That didn’t stop the Hoosiers trying to take the top off Ohio State’s defense and eventually it paid off, first with a pass interference penalty and then with a 51-yard third-quarter gain to Charlie Becker that set up Mendoza’s first touchdown pass. The willingness to stretch the field kept Ohio State honest to such an extent that it backed pressure off and let Mendoza get comfortable.
Tough running. The Hoosiers could not pop the explosives that have defined their most dominant performances. But they did not abandon the ground game, to their credit. More than once, a commitment to the run, even in the face of Ohio State’s defensive strength, flipped a field or extended a drive. It might not have been flashy, but the willingness to commit to it added up.

What I disliked in IU football’s win vs Ohio State in Big Ten championship game

Special teams miscues. Nico Radicic’s first-half miss, his first on a field goal attempt all season, hardly paralleled the sins of last season in Columbus. But the margins are so painfully thin against this Ohio State team. The difference between needing a touchdown and needing a field goal might not feel so seismic in the second quarter, but it will in the fourth. Couple this to a handful of first-half penalties, and Cignetti will have wanted to get some fundamentals cleaned up at halftime.
Injuries. Mendoza got a scare early, on a hard hit from Caden Curry. He was fine, but just plays later Omar Cooper Jr., IU’s leading receiver, limped off for the rest of the evening. Mikail Kamara continued to battle an assortment of problems as the evening wore on. Both injuries and apparent performance shuffled Indiana’s offensive line. It was a bruising evening in Indianapolis.
Finishing drives. Hard to beat the best with field goals, something IU learned Saturday. More than once, an explosive play opened the door to a touchdown Ohio State’s smothering defense promptly closed. On an evening when the finest details mattered most, those missed opportunities ratcheted up Cignetti’s stress.

What IU football’s win vs Ohio State in Big Ten championship game means

History. For the first time since 1945, the Hoosiers have an outright Big Ten championship. The College Football Playoff committee had essentially locked IU into a bye and then Cignetti claimed nobody had earned it.

His Hoosiers earned it, and the No. 1 seed and a Rose Bowl berth Jan. 1.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

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Miami Ohio vs Western Michigan live updates: Start time, TV for MAC championship

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Miami Ohio vs Western Michigan live updates: Start time, TV for MAC championship

It’s hard to beat the same college football team twice in a single season.

That’s what Miami (Ohio) will have to contend with when it faces off against Western Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Ford Field in Detroit in the MAC championship game.

Watch the MAC championship game on Fubo (free trial)

The RedHawks (7-5, 6-2 MAC) earned a 26-17 win over the Broncos (8-4, 7-1) on Oct. 25. Interestingly, both teams started the season 0-3, but recovered during conference play to get themselves into the conference championship game.

With one conference loss, Western Michigan won the regular-season MAC title. However, the road for Miami was a little more complicated, as it finished tied with Toledo and Ohio with two losses apiece. The RedHawks earned the spot in the championship game, despite regular-season losses to both.

Miami’s 49-25 win over Ball State served as the three-way tiebreaker, as the RedHawks had a better win percentage than Ohio and Toledo vs. all common opponents.

USA TODAY is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:

Miami vs Western Michigan score

TEAM	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	FINAL
Miami (Ohio)	―	―	―	―	―
W Michigan	―	―	―	―	―

Miami vs Western Michigan live updates

This section will be updated.

Western Michigan has won four MAC titles in program history (1966, 1976, 1988 and 2016). Miami has won 17 while a member of the MAC, and has 25 conference championships in school history.

Here’s a look at Miami (Ohio) players walking into Detroit Field:

What time does Miami vs Western Michigan start?

Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
Time: Noon ET
Where: Ford Field (Detroit)

Miami vs Western Michigan will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 6 from Ford Field in Detroit.

What TV channel is Miami vs Western Michigan on today?

The MAC championship game between Miami and Western Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries ESPN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Miami vs Western Michigan predictions

Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 20, Miami 17

Western Michigan avenges its lone regular-season conference loss with a win over Miami to win its first MAC title since 2016. The Broncos’ defense will smother the RedHawks in a defensive battle, scoring a touchdown on a fumble return in the first half.

Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports: Western Michigan 23, Miami 20

Western Michigan’s lone conference loss this season came against Miami. However, it’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season and the Broncos have won four consecutive games since falling to the RedHawks in late October. It should be a close game, but Western Michigan gets revenge for its first MAC title since 2016.

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports: Miami 24, Western Michigan 21

Defense wins championships, and that is what this game is going to come down to. Both defenses rank in the top four of the MAC in sacks, with Miami leading Western Michigan 38-14 in the category. Whichever defense can get a few stops (or takeaways) in the fourth quarter will win this one.