Josh Myers
FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day yells during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in New Orleans, in this Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, file photo. Ohio State stars leaving early for the NFL happens every winter, but perhaps the more surprising news this time is about the number of important players who've decided to stay.(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Day encouraged by returning players who put off NFL dreams

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 22, 2021 01:52 PM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban applauds as he watches his team play Notre Dame late in the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
No. 1 Alabama faces No. 3 Ohio State for CFP championship

By The Associated Press Jan. 10, 2021 10:08 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2019, file photo, Alabama offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) blocks Arkansas defensive lineman Mataio Soli (11) as Alabama offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. (55) offers support during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Leatherwood is likely to face his biggest challenge of the year when Alabama meets Ohio State in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Prolific offenses in title game powered by tough O-lines

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 08, 2021 05:50 PM EST

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is tackled by Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
NFL prospects everywhere in Alabama-Ohio State title game

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 07, 2021 02:28 AM EST

FILE - Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis (52) is shown during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. Davis was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team offense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Sacrifice and stress: How players handled season of COVID-19

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2020 02:04 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2020, file photo, Ohio State coach Ryan Day looks at the scoreboard during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
CFP matchups: What will decide Tide-Irish, Tigers-Buckeyes?

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 27, 2020 11:35 AM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, Indiana head coach Tom Allen looks toward his players on the sideline during a break in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Bloomington, Ind. Allen is coach of the year on the Associated Press All-Big Ten football team. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)
AP All-Big Ten: Ohio State's Fields, Indiana's Allen honored

By Eric Olson Dec. 22, 2020 12:00 PM EST

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, left, rushes against Michigan State's Antjuan Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Ohio State's Fields chosen Big Ten Offensive Player of Year

Dec. 15, 2020 02:07 PM EST

Michigan State coach Mel Tucker is shown against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
No. 3 Ohio State has no problem with Spartans in 52-12 win

By Noah Trister Dec. 05, 2020 04:01 PM EST

Wait a minute: Stars Wade, Davis decide to return to Ohio St

By Mitch Stacy Sep. 17, 2020 06:56 PM EDT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Two of Ohio State’s biggest stars, cornerback Shaun Wade and guard Wyatt Davis, are opting back in for the 2020 football season. ...

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, file photo, Penn State offensive lineman Will Fries (71) plays against Washington during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, in Glendale, Ariz. These times amid the coronavirus pandemic have brought an extra level of anxiety for current college players hoping for a stellar season or at least one that will raise their profile with NFL scouts. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Virus has NFL prospects pondering threat of a lost season

By Mitch Stacy May. 18, 2020 01:43 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Iowa place kicker Keith Duncan (3) celebrates with teammate Colten Rastetter after kicking a 45-yard field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, in Iowa City, Iowa. Duncan was selected to The Associated Press All-Big Ten Conference team, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Ohio State leads the pack in AP All-Big Ten top honors

By Eric Olson Dec. 11, 2019 12:06 PM EST

Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims (5) makes a first-down gesture in the fourth quarter against Texas in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Race for No. 1; Ducks drag Pac-12 down

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 23, 2019 08:09 PM EST

North Carolina's Sam Howell (7) gets stopped on a two-point conversion by Clemson's James Skalski (47) and Xavier Thomas (3) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
All-America Watch: No. 2 Clemson reloads on D-line

By Pete Iacobelli Oct. 08, 2019 02:45 PM EDT

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day reacts after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Coach Day to keep No. 6 Ohio St on task against Miami

By Mitch Stacy Sep. 20, 2019 12:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 6, 2019, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields runs through a drill during an NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. Lots of people are curious to see how No. 5 Ohio State is going to fare in its first game with a new head coach and a new, untested starting quarterback. That includes the new coach, Ryan Day. He’s as curious as anybody to see what’s going to happen. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)
Florida Atlantic will try to keep up with new-look Buckeyes

By Mitch Stacy Aug. 30, 2019 12:21 PM EDT

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches his team during NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
New faces, same sky-high expectations at Ohio State

By Mitch Stacy Aug. 13, 2019 10:54 AM EDT

Ohio State NCAA college football head coach Ryan Day watches practice in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
New Ohio State coach kicks off tenure with many new faces

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 06, 2019 02:05 PM EST