Ordinarily, the home town of an incoming vice-president of the United States ought to be awash with pride, vigor and celebration one month out from their big day.

But across Middletown, JD Vance’s home town in south-west Ohio, you would hardly know.

Its streets and shop fronts are full of festive cheer; sign after sign points drivers in the direction of the city’s famed Christmas lights display.

There’s little indication that, in a matter of weeks, this town’s most famous son will become second in line to the presidency of the most powerful nation on the planet.

Such is the apparent indifference in Middletown, that Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, felt it necessary to attend and speak at a recent city council meeting to plead for her son to be better recognized.

“I still live here, and his sister still lives in Middletown. [JD has] got two nieces who live here and I just think it would be nice if we could acknowledge that this is his home town and put up some signs,” she said.

The City of Middletown waited a full month before publicly acknowledging Vance and Trump’s election success on its Facebook page. One council member who supports Vance called that “unacceptable”.

City council members declined to respond to Vance’s mother’s request at that time, though the city has since said it was discussing plans to mark Vance’s new position that include erecting street signs.

Other Middletown residents say reasons for the lukewarm response to what should be one of the city’s proudest achievements are not difficult to figure out.

“When I look around and want to see what this quote-unquote financial heavy hitter has done for this community, I’m still looking,” says Dr Celeste Didlick-Davis, the head of the Middletown branch of the NAACP.

“Other individuals, a variety of people who have done substantial things, have supported growth and transformation [in Middletown]. To know what [Vance] has done for this community, I’d have to really, really research and I shouldn’t have to really, really research.

“You’ve had two years as a senator – have we had one visit that benefits someone?”

Vance first shot to fame as the author of the 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy, in which he portrayed his Appalachia-rooted childhood, life with a mother struggling with addiction in Middletown and a grandmother who played a major role raising him and his sister.

In the book, he delved into life in the blue-collar city of about 50,000 people, which has struggled with the fallout of manufacturing offshoring, the Great Recession and the opioid epidemic. Vance has since formulated a political career off the back of claiming to come from a working-class family and city, while banking on support from billionaire conservatives to help him win elections.

Trump picked Vance as his running mate in July, despite the Ohio native being seen as a relative political novice and being unknown for being involved in any aspect of public life in his home town.

Locals say that may explain why in Middletown 38% of voters chose candidates other than the Trump-Vance ticket in last month’s election. Voter turnout across many Middletown precincts ran in the 40-50% range – as much as 20 points below the national voting turnout rate.

“He comes back when he needs to make a political speech,” said Scotty Robertson, a member of the local Democratic party.

“If someone would take me to one thing that JD Vance has made better in Middletown, I’d retract everything I’ve said about him.”

Vance’s rhetoric and political positions, which includes calling for the mass deportations of immigrants, has turned many in the largely blue-collar town off.

“I’m hearing from people who are concerned that their grandmom is going to get deported. That is really sending chills up people’s spines,” said Adriane Scherrer, a business owner who helps people, including immigrants, launch and run non-profit organizations.

“There is no sign on the part of [Trump or Vance] that they understand the importance of immigration in our country. What worries people the most is that there’s no recognition of the damage that deportations would do.”

Some residents say that people in the local the LGBTQ+ community have reached out to family overseas to talk about leaving the US if the environment under the incoming administration worsens.

However, others believe Vance and Trump will do great things for this Ohio city.

“Politically he’s the most famous person to come out of Middletown. I always feel like we could do more,” said Savannah Woolum, a Vance and Trump voter who manages a bar in Middletown. “It’s opening a lot of eyes to realizing that you can come from a small town like he did, and make it as far as he has.”

She said it gave people here hope, but realized that naming a drink or dish after the vice-president-elect could be problematic.

“Maybe the city [officials] are a little scared of embracing his achievements because of the people that didn’t vote for him.”

Middletown high school’s marching band and cheerleaders have been invited to Washington DC for next month’s inauguration parade, with the city of Middletown contributing $10,000 to covering that expense.

Middletown’s mayor, Elizabeth Slamka, said that adding signage around the city acknowledging Vance’s achievement was in the works.

But others are concerned that if Trump and Vance follow through on their promises of cutting education funding and vaccination programs, it could be devastating for many Middletown residents.

“I just see my community being overlooked and underserved,” says Didlick-Davis.

Former Purdue tight end Max Klare has committed to transfer to Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes a difference-maker at that position for 2025.

Klare caught 51 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns this season for Purdue. He was the leading receiver in all three categories for the Boilermakers, who were winless in the Big Ten and fired coach Ryan Walters.

Klare finished sixth nationally in receiving yards among tight ends.

Klare was ranked the top available tight end in the NCAA transfer portal by ESPN and the No. 20 player overall. Texas, Michigan, Louisville and Texas A&M were reportedly other programs that pursued him.

Klare will have two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-4, 240-pounder is from Guilford, Indiana, near Cincinnati. He attended St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.

More: Ohio State football lands CJ Donaldson Jr. from transfer portal. How West Virginia RB fits

He is the third transfer addition of the day for Ohio State, following West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson and Idaho State defensive end Logan George.

Why TE Max Klare picked Ohio State from transfer portal

Klare told ESPN that Ohio State’s status as an elite program and ability to develop him further were major reasons for his decision.

“Really, when it came down to making the decision, coach Day’s ability to develop players and send them off to the NFL, the development process was huge for me,” he told ESPN.

More: Facing Oregon rematch, Ohio State football coach Ryan Day focused on execution not revenge

“Just an opportunity to win a national championship and develop into a better player and play against the best competition, day-in and day-out (appealed to me), and being around a lot of like-minded individuals that are going to push me to be my best.”

How CFP fans (probably) reacted to the first round games

After the CFP first round, Before The Snap shares a sketch take on who made it to the quarterfinals.

How Max Klare will fit with Ohio State football’s roster

Klare is the front-runner to start for Ohio State next year. Starter Gee Scott Jr.’s eligibility expires, as does Will Kacmarek’s. Kacmarek is an Ohio University transfer who has been a significant role player.

The Buckeyes still have Jelani Thurman, a promising but inconsistent sophomore, and Bennett Christian, who’s more of a blocker.

Klare and Thurman could give the Buckeyes a strong receiving element from the tight end position that they lacked this year following Cade Stover’s graduation.

According to the Indianapolis Star, Klare accounted for almost 32% of Purdue’s pass plays that gained 10 or more yards.

Ohio State football transfer targets

The Buckeyes remain in the mix for Rice offensive tackle Ethan Onianwa, according to multiple reports.

When does transfer portal close?

The portal closes on Dec. 28 or five days following a team’s last postseason game.

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jack Sawyer ran from a postgame interview when he heard the opening notes of “Carmen Ohio” coming from the Ohio State band.

The local product didn’t want to miss a second of the postgame tradition.

Emeka Egbuka gazed at the Ohio Stadium seats as he slowly turned in a circle.

The senior receiver who always took his role in stride amid a collection of spectacular talent at the position wanted to take it all in one final time.

Donovan Jackson had his arms around fellow offensive linemen as they posed for a photo with Will Howard.

The once-highly-rated offensive tackle wanted to be part of a captured moment with those who helped him keep the quarterback upright despite brutal injury luck in the trenches.

Those were among the late-night moments inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday as members of the Buckeyes’ senior class celebrated a College Football Playoff first-round win against Tennessee.

A group once ranked among the best in the storied program’s history that hasn’t achieved many of its goal — capped by an ugly postgame scene following a Nov. 30 loss against Michigan — got a second chance to leave its home field on a better note.

They took advantage, dominating the Vols en route to a 28-point victory.

The first step in rewriting, or at least improving, a legacy was complete.

“It means everything to me,” Sawyer said. “When we saw we got another home game against a team like that coming in here, I knew it was going to be awesome.”

Ohio State’s seniors nearly left on an ugly note

Ohio State coach Ryan Day establishes the program’s standard with three goals each year: Beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and claim a national title.

When the 2021 recruiting class arrived, it was supposed to start a run of consistently reaching those accomplishments. So far, the Buckeyes’ senior class is 0-for-11 and the lasting memory was lined up to be an ugly one.

Before Sawyer was running to sing with teammates on Saturday, the final image of him at Ohio Stadium was one of anger and disappointment.

Ohio State was a heavy favorite against Michigan this year, suggesting a three-game skid in the rivalry would finally end.

Instead, the Wolverines pulled off the upset and tried planting a flag at midfield. It led to Sawyer and many of his teammates taking offense, sparking fights that saw law enforcement get involved.

Despite a stellar outing from Sawyer, including a spectacular interception, that was going to be the lasting image.

“I could’ve had a million sacks, but we lost the game,” Sawyer said Saturday. “That’s all that matters to me. Everything (about) the way the game ended motivated us to come into this week like this.”

The new College Football Playoff allows narratives to change

The Michigan loss would’ve been it for players such as Egbuka, Sawyer and Jackson last year. At 10-2, Ohio State’s season would’ve ended in a underwhelming bowl game after immense expectations.

The new 12-team College Football Playoff has brought change, allowing additional opportunities to shift narratives.

Perhaps no group in the country could benefit more than Ohio State’s seniors.

“I think it’s awesome,” Sawyer said. “The 12-team playoff, I think it’s great. It gives teams a chance that you wouldn’t have got a chance in years previous.”

There’s a cliché in baseball when a hitter is going through a slump. If they’re hitless in 11 consecutive at-bats, you tell yourself that they’re due.

Statistically, there’s no such thing. You’re likelihood to get a hit in that 12th at-bat is the same as any other, but the belief still exists that the longer the drought continues, the sooner it is to end.

Ohio State’s seniors are on at-bat No. 12: Winning a national title.

Maybe the win vs. Tennessee proved they’re due to change how they’re remembered.

“It is a new season,” Sawyer said. “It’s a new season every week. It’s win-or-go-home. It’s the NFL playoffs now. That’s been our mindset.”