We've made it to the midway point of the college football season. There are still a lot of games left to be played that will shape the College Football...
Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson Expected to Return from Injury vs. Michigan State
Oct 4, 2022
FILE - Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson plays in an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Henderson was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day told reporters on Tuesday that running back TreVeyon Henderson is expected to play against Michigan State on Saturday after missing this week's 49-10 win over Rutgers with a minor injury.
Henderson reportedly suffered the injury in warmups ahead of the Rutgers game and was kept out as a precautionary measure.
"It's nothing big, it's just we gotta be sure if we're gonna put him in the game," Day said on the Big Ten Network during halftime of the Rutgers win (h/t Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors). "We weren't sure. Something that kinda came up pregame, so we're gonna be careful."
Henderson, a sophomore, was fantastic in his freshman season, rushing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 27 catches for 312 yards and another four scores. He's rushed for 318 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Injuries had already played a part in his season, however. Henderson left the Sept. 17 win over Toledo in a walking boot, though he played the next week against Wisconsin and rushed for 121 yards in the 52-21 win.
Junior running back Miyan Williams stepped into the starting role with Henderson out, rushing for 189 yards and five scores.
"I look at it as we have two starters," running backs coach and run-game coordinator Tony Alford told reporters on Tuesday. "That's how I've looked at it the whole time."
Tony Alford on Miyan Williams: “There’s nothing soft about that kid ... He’s a tough guy.”
Ohio State has steamrolled most of its opponents en route to a 5-0 record, rushing for 226.2 yards per game (11th in the country) and 48.8 points per contest (third). As usual, the Buckeyes are stacked on offense.
Keeping Henderson healthy is important as the team heads into the meat of its Big Ten schedule, however, even with an excellent option like Williams at the ready.
OSU's Miyan Williams Hyped by LeBron James, Twitter After 5 TDs in Win vs. Rutgers
Oct 1, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO - OCTOBER 01: Miyan Williams #3 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on October 01, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has been primarily responsible for Ohio State's offensive success over the past two seasons, but running back Miyan Williams took center stage Saturday.
In the No. 3 Buckeyes' 49-10 win over Rutgers, Williams rushed for 189 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries.
Williams' five rushing touchdowns tied an Ohio State single-game record also held by Pete Johnson and Keith Byars.
The junior from Cincinnati punched the ball into the end zone three times from in close during the first half, but his primary highlight of the day occurred early in the third quarter when he blasted through and past the Rutgers defense for a 70-yard touchdown:
See. You. Later. 🙌
Miyan Williams goes 70 yards for his 4th TD of the day.
Miyan Williams is the only one in offense who came to play today. What a monster.
— Ryan Day - National Champion Legion (@Buckeye_Legion) October 1, 2022
Williams was off to a strong start this season, rushing for 308 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry entering Saturday's game.
Against Rutgers, Williams set career highs in carries, rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns, and he perhaps put himself in position to challenge TreVeyon Henderson for the title of No. 1 running back at OSU.
Henderson missed the game with an undisclosed injury, but the Ohio State running game didn't miss a beat, as Williams tied a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game.
The offense will most likely run through Stroud moving forward, but if the undefeated Buckeyes are going to contend for a national championship, a strong running game spearheaded by Williams could end up being key.
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Reportedly out vs. Rutgers with Hamstring Injury
Oct 1, 2022
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball after a reception during the first half against the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Ohio State will have to play Rutgers without wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the junior star will be held out of Saturday's game because of a hamstring injury he originally suffered in the season-opener against Notre Dame.
This will be the third game Smith-Njigba has missed already this season. He sat out wins over Arkansas State on Sept. 10 and Wisconsin on Sept. 24.
The Buckeyes star attempted to play against Toledo on September 17. He had just two receptions for 33 yards in a 77-21 victory.
Thamel noted there is no timetable for Smith-Njigba to return, and the Buckeyes medical staff is treating the injury "with an abundance of caution to make sure he's healthy for the finishing stretch of the schedule."
Expectations were incredibly high for Smith-Njigba coming into 2022. The 20-year-old was a standout for Ohio State last year on a team that also had Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, both first-round draft picks in the 2022 NFL draft, at wide receiver.
Smith-Njigba finished third in the nation with 1,606 receiving yards and tied for ninth with 95 receptions in 2021. He had at least 100 yards in each of Ohio State's final five games, including a school- and bowl-record 347 yards in a 48-45 Rose Bowl victory over Utah.
Despite not having Smith-Njigba for most of the season thus far, Ohio State's passing offense hasn't suffered. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,222 yards with 16 touchdowns and one interception. Emeka Egbuka leads the team with 26 receptions and 442 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. has 387 yards on 21 catches.
Ohio State (4-0) is currently the No. 3 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Its next game against a ranked opponent is on Oct. 29 on the road against No. 11 Penn State at Beaver Stadium.
OSU AD Gene Smith 'Would Love to Help' LeBron James Explore NCAA Eligibility
Sep 26, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 03: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
LeBron James didn't get the chance to suit up for Ohio State or any other college basketball team because he went straight to the NBA from high school, but it's apparently too early to rule out the chances of the King suiting up for the Buckeyes on the gridiron.
James turned heads Saturday when he tweeted "Do I have college eligibility if I went to play another sport besides basketball? How does that rule work?"
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith jumped at the chance to help:
@KingJames - If you never enrolled full-time in college and didn’t compete in the sport that you want to play after HS graduation, you could have eligibility remaining. If you professionalize in one sport, you can still be considered an amateur in another. Would love to help you!
It is no secret that LeBron is a massive Ohio State fan. He was on the sidelines for the Buckeyes' win over Notre Dame to start the season, was tweeting about Saturday's blowout victory over Wisconsin and called for quarterback C.J. Stroud to win the Heisman Trophy.
James also made it clear in the past he would have gone to Ohio State if he did attend college.
Were it not for basketball, James may have pursued a football career. After all, he was a two-time All-Ohio wide receiver in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary's and was even recruited by former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel.
Lacing up the football cleats again after a basketball career and around 40 years old may be a different story for James, especially if he was interested in playing at the level the national champion-contending Buckeyes do on a weekly basis, but Smith might see an opportunity to help make it happen.
CJ Stroud, Ohio State Touted as Best Team in CFB After Dominant Win over Wisconsin
Sep 25, 2022
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks to throw a pass against Wisconsin during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes continued to roll Saturday with a 52-21 win over unranked Wisconsin to remain undefeated in a season that could be one of the program's best since it reached the national title game during the 2020 campaign.
Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud continued what could end up being a Heisman-worthy campaign, completing 17-of-27 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns against one interception.
Running back Miyan Williams had his best game of the season, rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka reeled in six passes for 118 yards and two scores.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson finished with 21 carries for 121 yards, and tight end Cade Stover finished with four catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a dominant outing for the Buckeyes as nearly everyone contributed to the win, and that led to fans on Twitter lauding the team for being the best in all of college football, ahead of both Alabama and Georgia.
Should Ohio State be ranked No. 1 tomorrow? Yeah, probably.
Ohio State is clearly the best team in the country. They’re in a tier all by themselves. Alabama is close, though. Guess we’ll see who’s better in L.A.
It was an impressive victory for Ohio State, especially considering they were without top wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba because of injury.
If the Buckeyes continue to compete at this high of a level, they'll undoubtedly punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff later this season. Next up on the schedule is a matchup against unranked Rutgers on Oct. 1.
If Ohio State ranks No. 1 in the next edition of the AP Top 25 Poll, it will be interesting to see where the current No. 1, Georgia, ranks and No. 2 Alabama ranks.
Ohio State's C.J. Stroud Hyped by CFB Twitter After 'Creating a Gap' in Heisman Race
Sep 18, 2022
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drops back to pass against Toledo during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Toledo Rockets 77-21 in a blowout on Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, to move to 3-0 on the season.
It was a particularly impressive showing from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who completed 22 of 27 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns. He also had two carries for nine yards before being replaced by Kyle McCord with the Buckeyes holding a significant lead in the fourth quarter.
Stroud has been considered a Heisman Trophy favorite since the 2022 season began, but fans believe he put some distance between him and his competition in the race for the award with his performance against the Rockets.
Stroud wins heisman and the nati. I will not accept anything less. This team has all the talent it needs and then some. They can take on bama and georgia.
Stroud entered Saturday's game having completed 69 percent of his passes for 574 yards and six touchdowns in wins over Notre Dame and Arkansas State.
While Stroud currently looks like the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, the 2022 campaign has only just begun. He's sure to have some stiff competition for the award, especially from the likes of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
The Buckeyes will face the Wisconsin Badgers next weekend looking to extend their record to 4-0.
OSU WRs Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming Expected to Play vs. Toledo After Injuries
Sep 13, 2022
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 03: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball during the first quarter in a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
Ohio State wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming are expected to play against Toledo on Saturday, per head coach Ryan Day.
"He's further along than he was at this point last week," Day told reporters regarding Smith-Njigba, who suffered a hamstring injury early in the Sept. 3 season-opening win against Notre Dame.
"We're going to expect him to play this weekend, we'll see how this week goes, but we're going to only put him in the game if we feel 100 percent sure that he's ready to roll."
Smith-Njigba did not play last Saturday against Arkansas State in a 45-12 win.
Fleming has missed both of Ohio State's victories after suffering an undisclosed injury late in training camp, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.
However, he's also expected to go this week in OSU's home matchup versus the 2-0 Rockets at 7 p.m. ET in Columbus' Ohio Stadium.
Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns last season. His return will be a welcome sight to a team with national championship aspirations. The same goes for Fleming, a 5-star recruit whom 247Sports ranked as the top wideout from the class of 2021. The Pennsylvania native caught 12 passes last year.
The remaining OSU wideouts have certainly held down the fort in their absence, however. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka combined for 11 receptions, 302 yards and four touchdown catches against Arkansas State. Egbuka notably dominated against Notre Dame with nine catches, 90 receiving yards and a touchdown reception.
Ultimately, Ohio State arguably sports the deepest and best wide receiver room in college football, and those wideouts are catching passes from a potential No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in C.J. Stroud.
The No. 3 Buckeyes are a force to be reckoned with, and adding Smith-Njigba and Fleming back into the fold only makes the team stronger as it searches for its first national title since the 2014 season.
C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. Wow Twitter as Ohio State Routs Arkansas State
Sep 10, 2022
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. runs past Utah cornerback Kenzel Lawler (2) during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide
receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to build an impressive rapport as they helped lead No. 3 Ohio State to a
convincing 45-12 win over Arkansas State on Saturday at Ohio
Stadium in Columbus.
Stroud, one of the early leaders in
this season's Heisman Trophy race, completed 16 of his 24 passes for
351 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for the Buckeyes.
Harrison tallied seven catches for 184 yards and three scores. He nearly had another TD late in the first
quarter, but it was ruled an incomplete pass on a close call at the
goal line.
I can’t believe what I just witnessed. The magic of CJ Stroud’s perfection in that pass and the brilliance of Marvin Harrison’s catch is other worldly! 😍😍
Other standouts for Ohio State included
running back TreVeyon Henderson (87 rushing yards and two TDs) and
Emeka Egbuka (118 receiving yards and one TD).
It took awhile for OSU to find its top
gear against the Red Wolves, as the massive underdogs kept the contest
within one score until deep in the second quarter, but a
touchdown connection between Stroud and Harrison shortly before halftime opened the
floodgates.
That score sparked a 21-0 run for Ohio State, which cruised to the finish line.
The Buckeyes improved to 2-0 with
Saturday's victory after they scored a hard-fought 21-10 triumph over
No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 1.
Next up on the schedule for Ohio State
is a meeting with Toledo out of the MAC next Saturday at The
Horseshoe. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Fox.
LeBron James' Son Bronny Takes Ohio State Visit for Notre Dame Football Game
Sep 3, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 11: Bronny James #0 of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers reacts during the Hoophall West tournament against the Perry Pumas at Footprint Center on December 11, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Ohio State football's marquee matchup with Notre Dame on Saturday night is also going to double as a recruiting tool for one of the most notable basketball prospects in the 2023 class.
Bronny James, son of LeBron James, posted a picture of himself at the Horseshoe ahead of kickoff:
Bronny is entering his senior year at Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles. The 6'3" combo guard is a 4-star prospect and No. 41 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports.
In addition to Ohio State, UCLA, Michigan, Oregon, and USC are among the programs currently pursuing James, per ESPN's Paul Biancardi.
Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports previously reported Oregon is considered the favorite for James because of the school's status as the flagship program for the Nike brand. Nike headquarters are located in Beaverton, Oregon.
LeBron James has been a Nike partner since entering the NBA in 2003. The sports apparel giant was among a number of investors who bought a stake in James and Maverick Carter's SpringHill Company last year.
In response to Shaw's report, LeBron tweeted on Aug. 16 that Bronny hasn't had one visit yet and "you’ll hear it from him" when he makes a final college decision.
Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann has led the program to five consecutive 20-win seasons. They have reached the NCAA tournament four times during that span. (There was no tournament during the 2019-20 season because the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Saturday marks the seventh all-time meeting in football between Notre Dame and Ohio State. The Buckeyes have a 4-2 edge in the series, including a 44-28 victory in the last matchup at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2016.
