December 10, 2024

Good morning, Buckeye Nation. It’s Tuesday, and the excitement is building as we prepare for Tennessee’s visit to The Shoe. If you needed another reason to dislike the Vols, remember this: they’re taking up 3,500 seats in our stadium. That’s 3,500 Vols fans paying to watch Ohio State deliver a beating.

Regardless, let’s dive into the updates and rumors — more analysis of Tennessee, players in and out, and alternate uniforms?

“Anything easy ain't worth a damn.” — Woody Hayes

Tennessee’s Offense: Nico and Company

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is the centerpiece of Tennessee’s offense. The former five-star from Southern California made waves during his recruitment thanks to a record-breaking NIL deal in 2022 — $8 million — and he’s beginning to show he’s worth the investment.

This season, Iamaleava has completed 66% of his passes for 2,512 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Add 311 rushing yards and a touchdown, and his upside becomes clear. However, while he shined in non-conference play, he has had rough stretches, throwing for under 200 yards on several occasions — most notably in losses against Arkansas (158 yards) and Georgia (167 yards). Still, while Tennessee’s offense has not been particularly high-flying, there’s no doubt he’s a rising star and a major threat for the Buckeyes to handle. Iamaleava is likely the X-factor for Tennessee in this game — if Ohio State can take away the run game, can Nico Iamaleava rise to the occasion?

Who’s In, Who’s Out

• Ohio State offensive lineman Miles Walker has entered the transfer portal. A 2023 recruit with three years of eligibility left, Walker’s size and potential were promising — the 6’5”, 317-pound Connecticut native ranked No. 521 nationally and No. 29 among offensive tackles in his class. However, he never saw the field and his opportunities for playing time were limited. He will look to continue his development at a different school.
• Nebraska transfer edge rusher James Williams is visiting Columbus. The 6’6”, 250-pound standout tallied five sacks in a breakout season and has gained interest from top programs like Florida State, Texas A&M, Michigan State, and Ohio State. Once overlooked by major schools, Williams has worked his way into the spotlight. With two years of eligibility left, Williams could be a solid addition to the Buckeyes’ defense.

Recruiting: What’s Allowed During Playoff Games?

Is Ohio State allowed to host recruits or transfers for its playoff game? No.

As much as we’d love Ohio State to host recruits during the playoff, NCAA rules say otherwise. Schools are prohibited from offering tickets to prospective student-athletes for any postseason game — including the inaugural 12-team playoff. They’ll have to settle for watching us win on TV (unless they snatch the nosebleeds).

Seth McLaughlin Snaps His Way to Prestige

Seth McLaughlin, despite missing the final two games of the season, has been named a Rimington Trophy finalist. The award, given annually to the nation’s top center, honors players like Buckeye great LeCharles Bentley, who won it back in 2001. McLaughlin joins Jacob Gideon (Western Michigan) and Cooper Mays (Tennessee) as this year’s finalists.

Today’s Quiz Question

What is the largest crowd ever recorded at Ohio Stadium?

Rumor Mill

• Justin Scott sticking with Miami? Since yesterday, the initial post claiming that former 5-star Miami D-lineman Justin Scott was expected to enter the transfer portal seems to have been deleted. As of now, there’s no clear information — was it just talk, or is something in the works?
• A few days ago, LeCharles Bentley posted on X that he was back at Ohio State, sparking speculation about his involvement with the team — was he helping the O-line as a coaching consultant? Getting in early for a coaching job next year? While Bentley is an Ohio State legend — an All-American, a Rimington Trophy winner, and a two-time Pro Bowler — it currently seems that he was just there to watch practice.
• Keon Keeley, an Alabama D-lineman and the former No. 2 recruit in the 2023 class, is rumored to be considering entering the transfer portal. At 6’5”, 277 pounds, he’s a former five-star with immense potential despite his up-and-down tenure at Alabama. But don’t get your hopes up — he’s expected to land at Notre Dame.
• Fans are wondering if Ohio State will go with alternate uniforms for the game against Tennessee. Just seeing past alternates is getting us excited. Could Ohio State bring back a classic?

Quiz Answer

110,045 people — set on November 26, 2016, in The Game (we all know how that ended).

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you in tomorrow’s edition of Buckeye Brief.