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Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Urban Meyer: Ohio State has 'never been more cautious' about who it brings in
As the college football landscape continues to evolve against the backdrop of name, image and likeness (NIL), the Ohio State Buckeyes continue to be in the upper echelon of the sport. What's the key? On Tuesday's edition of "The Herd," former Ohio State head coach and current FOX Sports College Football Studio Analyst on "Big Noon Kickoff" Urban Meyer gave his perspective on how Ohio State remains in the elite tier of the sport. "I think Ohio State, and I've talked to coach [Ryan] Day about this and Mark Pantoni, their GM, is that they have never been more cautious about what they bring into that program," Meyer said. "First of all, you don't need to change much because they recruit on an incredible level. So, if you're going to bring someone in, I got to a point a couple of times in my career where [I was like] 'do not take that person if that can disrupt the culture; don't do it.' As a result, we let some good players get away from us, but we're not going to change our culture, so that's what they're doing." After winning its ninth title in program history last season, Ohio State is out to be the 15th team to repeat as national champions. Ohio State opens the 2025 season with a headline matchup, as it hosts the Texas Longhorns on Aug. 30 in what's a rematch of last season's College Football Playoff semifinal round; the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns, 28-14, to advance to the National Championship, where they then beat Notre Dame. On the other side of the ball will be junior Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who Meyer said could be a "great quarterback" in what's his first full season as the program's starter. Ohio State had 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, with four players taken in Round 1 and three more taken in Round 2. In other words, the Buckeyes are replacing 14 starters from last season. Meyer expressed that Ohio State has to "get good fast" at quarterback with Julian Sayin' presumably getting the Week 1 nod. Granted, the Buckeyes also have Mason Maggs, Lincoln Kienholz and five-star freshman Tavien St. Clair in their quarterback room. Ohio State is trying to fill the shoes of 2024 quarterback Will Howard, who was selected in the sixth round after throwing for a Big Ten-high 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns and completing a conference-high 73.0% of his passes. However, Meyer sees a more pressing issue that Ohio State has to address head-on before worrying about replacing its quarterback. "The biggest issue, I think, is when a team wins a national championship, everything changes," Meyer said. "I talked to Joe Maddon in 2016. He just came off winning the World Series as the manager of the Chicago Cubs, and he was miserable. And he said how hard it is to have back-to-back [titles]. It doesn't happen very often. Why? Because complacency sets in the program, so I think that's Ryan Day's No. 1. And not so much with the players, because he's replacing a bunch of players. I'm talking about the coaching staff. I'm talking about everybody in that organization. Enough of patting on the back [about last season]. That one is ancient history. That's over. That's going to be the challenge. "I've talked to many coaches who have won national titles. Dealing with the complacency that seeps into your program is the biggest issue." As for returning players, the Buckeyes have star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who totaled 76 receptions for a Big Ten-high 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in his 2024 freshman season, and fellow receiver Carnell Tate, who tallied 733 receiving yards last year. On the other side of the ball, Ohio State has star defensive back/punt returner Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles — who logged six sacks and 100 combined tackles in 2024 — among others. Ohio State's 2025 recruiting class ranks fourth in the country, according to 247Sports, headlined by five-stars like St. Clair, cornerback Devin Sanchez and wide receiver Quincy Porter. The Georgia Bulldogs are the last program to repeat as national champions, winning the 2021 and 2022 College Football Playoffs. Prior to Georgia, Alabama accomplished the feat in 2011 and 2012. Michigan State is the last Big Ten school to win back-to-back championships, splitting the 1965 and 1966 national titles. The last Big Ten school to outright win consecutive titles was Minnesota in 1940 and 1941, when the Big Ten was the "Western Conference." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Big Ten Ohio State Buckeyes recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Spartans listed in bottom half of Big Ten in 247Sports' post-spring rankings
Spartans listed in bottom half of Big Ten in 247Sports' post-spring rankings See where Michigan State is listed in 247Sports' post-spring rankings for the Big Ten Michigan State football is listed as a bottom half team in the Big Ten following spring practice, according to one 247Sports' writer. Carter Bahns of 247Sports released his post-spring power rankings for the Big Ten this past week, and the Spartans to no surprise were in the bottom half of the league. Michigan State came in at No. 12 in the power rankings, which was one spot ahead of Rutgers and one spot behind Washington. The complete rankings from Bahns can be seen by clicking here or scrolling further to the embedded graphic below. Bahns had the following to say about the Spartans following spring practice: "A lot rides on Aidan Chiles taking better care of the ball in 2025. With a Big Ten-high 11 interceptions and his four lost fumbles as a first-year starter, the debut season at Michigan State was often highly frustrating. Jonathan Smith improved the roster around his quarterback, like he did on a perennial basis throughout his stellar tenure at Oregon State, and now it comes down to Chiles making the most of it. Sophomore Nick Marsh will help him do so as one of the top projected receivers in the conference." From my point of view, this seems like a fair breakdown of the Spartans and ranking from Bahns. The Spartans have the upside to climb higher in these rankings should everything click offensively with Chiles and co., but they could also fall further down the rankings if we don't see the necessary progression on that side of the ball. So No. 12 is a fair spot to slate the Spartans as we wrap up spring practice and look ahead to the fall. Michigan State opens the 2025 season against Western Michigan on August 30. Check out the complete rankings from Bahns in the graphic below: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Fox Sports
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Penn State's Abdul Carter posts Lawrence Taylor photo on Giants NFL draft visit
Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter may very well be selected by the New York Giants with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — and such an outcome appears to enthuse the Nittany Lions star. In the building for a Top-30 visit, Carter posted a photo of Giants legend Lawrence Taylor to X on Friday morning, which includes a quote from late owner Wellington Mara on the bottom, "Once a Giant, always a Giant." Carter also reportedly had breakfast with Giants head coach Brian Daboll earlier this month. Taylor, an eight-time All-Pro and the 1986 NFL MVP, spent his entire 13-year career with the Giants (1981-93), for whom he's first in team history with 142 career sacks and regarded as the best player in franchise history. Carter, who played three seasons at Penn State after redshirting his freshman year, totaled 12 sacks, a Big Ten-high 24 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, four passes defended and 68 combined tackles last season, helping him earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. He played through a shoulder injury in the College Football Playoff, and it was revealed he had a stress reaction in his foot at the NFL Scouting Combine. Regarding the latter, Carter isn't expected to have surgery, according to ESPN. Carter would join a Giants defense that was 24th in the NFL in total yards surrendered (346.8 per game) and 21st in points surrendered (24.4 per game) last season in what was a 3-14 campaign. That said, they were tied for eighth with 45 sacks on the season. At first glance, Carter and the Giants aren't a "perfect match," as the franchise acquired and signed outside linebacker and two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns to a five-year, $141 million deal last offseason and selected outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Oregon. Historically, though, New York has placed an emphasis on pass rushers, with it most recently sporting the combination of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora in its Super Bowl XLVI season and Michael Strahan, Tuck and Umenyiora, among others, in its Super Bowl XLII season. As for the draft, the Tennessee Titans are expected to select Miami quarterback and 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick, with the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 being the team that likely decides whether Carter falls to the Giants; the Browns could select Colorado two-way superstar Travis Hunter or Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. This offseason, the Giants have signed quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, fellow quarterback Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, defensive backs Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland to three-year deals and re-signed Darius Slayton to a three-year deal, among other moves. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience NFL Draft New York Giants Abdul Carter recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Penn State's Abdul Carter, potential No. 1 NFL pick, has stress reaction in foot
Penn State standout defensive end Abdul Carter, who considers himself "the best player in the country," is dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot. Carter, who could potentially be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has two options: have preemptive surgery, which would involve having a screw put in his foot (roughly an eight-week recovery), or put off surgery, according to ESPN. Carter's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that he "couldn't be more confident" that the stress reaction will be a "non-factor" in where the 21-year-old star lands in the draft. Furthermore, Carter doesn't feel any pain and will refrain from having surgery, according to NFL Media. This injury news comes on the heels of Carter suffering a shoulder injury late in the 2024 college football season. He's not working out for teams at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week but expects to be ready for Penn State's pro day on March 28. Carter totaled 12.0 sacks, a Big Ten-high 24 tackles for loss, four passes defended and 68 combined tackles last season, helping him earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. PSU reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. Carter, an All-American, being selected in the top three is likely dependent on how desperate the Tennessee Titans (No. 1), Cleveland Browns (No. 2) and New York Giants (No. 3) are for a new quarterback, as all three teams have murky futures at the position. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward, a Heisman finalist, could be the first two quarterbacks taken. Carter is in competition with Colorado two-way superstar and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to be the first non-quarterback off the board. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Penn State Nittany Lions College Football recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Penn State's Abdul Carter, potential No. 1 NFL pick, has stress fracture in foot
Penn State standout defensive end Abdul Carter, who considers himself "the best player in the country," is dealing with a stress fracture in his right foot. Carter, who could potentially be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has two options: have preemptive surgery, which would involve having a screw put in his foot (roughly an eight-week recovery), or put off surgery, according to ESPN. Carter's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that he "couldn't be more confident" that the stress fracture will be a "non-factor" in where the 21-year-old star lands in the draft. Furthermore, Carter doesn't feel any pain and will refrain from having surgery, according to NFL Media. This injury news comes on the heels of Carter suffering a shoulder injury late in the 2024 college football season. He's not working out for teams at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week but expects to be ready for Penn State's pro day on March 28. Carter totaled 12.0 sacks, a Big Ten-high 24 tackles for loss, four passes defended and 68 combined tackles last season, helping him earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. PSU reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. Carter, an All-American, being selected in the top three is likely dependent on how desperate the Tennessee Titans (No. 1), Cleveland Browns (No. 2) and New York Giants (No. 3) are for a new quarterback, as all three teams have murky futures at the position. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward, a Heisman finalist, could be the first two quarterbacks taken. Carter is in competition with Colorado two-way superstar and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to be the first non-quarterback off the board. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Penn State Nittany Lions College Football recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
