MITCH STACY
FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day directs his team during an NCAA college spring football game on April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State is hiking Day's annual salary to $9.5 million, as part of a two-year contract extension that will put him among the nation's highest-paid college football coaches. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Raise makes Ohio State's Day one of highest-paid coaches

By Mitch Stacy May. 18, 2022 02:22 PM EDT
Ohio State is hiking Ryan Day's annual salary to $9.5 million as part of a two-year

FILE - Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates his touchdown catch with offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (77) during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah on Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. Smith-Njigba, the starting slot receiver for the Buckeyes as a sophomore last year, stepped out of the shadow of the more established receivers to pace the Buckeyes with 95 catches and 1,606 yards. (AP Photo/John McCoy, File)
Smith-Njigba ready for role as top receiver for Ohio St

By Mitch Stacy Apr. 14, 2022 03:20 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of the Ohio State receivers who

Ohio State center Harry Miller (76) warms up for the team's football spring game in Columbus, Ohio, April 17, 2021. Miller said he's retiring from football because of mental health issues that pushed him to the brink of taking his own life. Miller made the retirement announcement in a two-page letter posted on Twitter on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in which he shared details of his struggle with mental illness and credited Ohio State coach Ryan Day with getting him help. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch via AP)
Ohio State's Miller retires, citing mental health struggles

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 11, 2022 01:20 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State offensive lineman Harry Miller said he's retiring

FILE - Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell walks onto the field before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Fickell has received a two-year contract extension through 2028 and a raise to $5 million per year after leading the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. The university board of trustees approved the contract extension Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, also increasing the football staff salary pool to $5.2 million per year. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Key players gone, but Cincy's Fickell says 'run is not over'

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 09, 2022 02:59 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Coach Luke Fickell has suggested a book about Cincinnati's upcoming

FILE - Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud drops back to pass against Tulsa during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Stroud, who threw for 4,435 and 44 touchdowns as a freshman, could be a Heisman Trophy candidate. Spring practice opened Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Defense a priority as Ohio State opens spring practice

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 08, 2022 04:04 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State's wild 48-45 win over Utah in the Rose Bowl helped

FILE -Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell coaches his players during practice for the Cotton Bowl NCAA football game, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Deposed Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs will be the new special teams/cornerbacks coach for Luke Fickell at the University of Cincinnati. Fickell announced the hiring of the 60-year-old Coombs on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.(AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File)
Fired Ohio St assistant Coombs joins Fickell at Cincinnati

By Mitch Stacy Feb. 01, 2022 06:18 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Fired Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs will be the new

FILE - Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner (1) celebrates an interception of a Murray State pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game Sept. 11, 2021, in Cincinnati. Gardner, an Associated Press All-American who hasn't given up a touchdown in his college career, still has to declare for the draft. But he generally projects higher than any of his teammates, so that decision seems clear. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati's Ford, Gardner departing early for NFL draft

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 04, 2022 01:48 PM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati has lost two stars from its College Football Playoff

FILE - Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell prepares to take players onto the field prior to an NCAA college football game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Cincinnati. For Cincinnati (13-0), a member of the second-tier American Athletic Conference, the planets aligned. The Bearcats landed as the No. 4 seed in the CFP, invading the domain of college football's blue bloods. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
Cincinnati climbs CFP mountain, but can it stay there?

By Mitch Stacy Dec. 23, 2021 11:34 AM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — The University of Cincinnati has played football for more than a

Houston coach Dana Holgorsen watches from the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Memphis, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Fickell: No. 3 Cincinnati isn't looking past AAC title game

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 30, 2021 02:39 AM EST
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell won't get drawn into the debate

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud throws a pass against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Michigan's defense braces for Buckeyes' high-flying attack

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 23, 2021 04:53 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State's dazzling offensive stars are about to run

Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara looks to throw a pass against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Game: High stakes as Michigan and Ohio State meet again

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 21, 2021 02:40 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — This year's version of The Game could hardly be bigger.

Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson, right, celebrates his touchdown against Michigan State with teammate Chris Olave during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Stroud tosses 6 TDs, No. 5 Ohio St blows out No. 7 Mich St

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 20, 2021 03:53 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — C.J. Stroud lit up No. 7 Michigan State early and gave

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson cuts up field against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No. 7 Michigan St looks to stop march of No. 4 Buckeyes

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 18, 2021 03:10 AM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — When Mel Tucker took the coaching job at Michigan State,

Ohio State defensive back Denzel Burke, left, breaks up a pass intended for Purdue receiver David Bell during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Stroud throws 5 TD passes, No. 6 Ohio State routs Purdue

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 13, 2021 07:22 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After two weeks of some uneven offensive play, the No. 6

Purdue wide receiver David Bell (3) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Spencer Holstege (75) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Upset alert: Revitalized Purdue focused on No. 6 Ohio State

By Mitch Stacy Nov. 11, 2021 01:43 PM EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The handful of current Ohio State upperclassmen who were

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) flips the ball after scoring a touchdown against Indiana in the first half during an NCAA college football game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
After 9 OT loss, No. 20 Penn St challenged by No. 5 Buckeyes

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 28, 2021 01:32 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After last week's blowout of Indiana, Ohio State

Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs on his way to scoring a 94-yard touchdown against Rutgers during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. Michigan State won 31-13. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tucker, Michigan State among biggest surprises in Big Ten

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 19, 2021 03:56 PM EDT
Mel Tucker took over a downtrodden Michigan State program before a pandemic

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell watches a replay during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
UCF is next as No. 3 Cincinnati tries to stay among elite

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 14, 2021 12:13 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati moved up to the No. 3 spot in the AP Top 25 this

Ohio State defensive lineman Zach Harrison, right, tackles Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Stroud throws 5 TDs, No. 7 Buckeyes bury Maryland 66-17

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 09, 2021 03:52 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — C.J. Stroud, who didn't throw a pass in a college

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Rutgers during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Stroud, No. 7 Buckeyes hitting stride with Maryland up next

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 07, 2021 01:17 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After some rough going early, freshman quarterback C.J.