Scarlet Sunrise: CBS Sports Classic, trip to Atlanta great bounce-back opportunity for Buckeyes

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

CBS Sports Classic, trip to Atlanta great bounce-back opportunity for Buckeyes

Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann said he was hoping the Buckeyes’ first neutral site game of the season — a primetime Emerald Coast Classic matchup versus Alabama in Niceville, Florida — would prepare his team when it finally hit the road for last weekend’s game at Penn State.

“We thought we were going to be able to get a little bit of a taste of a road environment down in Florida,” Holtmann explained. “And then we had a whole [lot] of Buckeye fans come down. In the Alabama game, it was really 50/50, and we might have even had more fans than them.”

So, two weeks later, Ohio State got its first real road experience in Happy Valley and came away with quite the learning lesson.

The Buckeyes saw their 18-point lead in the second half shrink in an instant. They allowed 10 offensive rebounds and eight 3-pointers in the final frame, including what ended up being the game-winner. Penn State’s comeback snapped a seven-game Ohio State win streak and extended the Buckeyes Big Ten road drought that dates back all the way to last January.

Ohio State had a week off to reflect on and then move on from its collapse against the Nittany Lions. Now, the Buckeyes have another neutral site game on the docket, this time likely with more of a road feel.

Holtmann’s squad is in Atlanta for the CBS Sports Classic, an annual four-team event that features Ohio State, UCLA, Kentucky and North Carolina. The Buckeyes rotate with the other three teams as the Classic moves around the country. Last year, Ohio State fell to UNC in overtime in Madison Square Garden. This year, the Buckeyes (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten) are facing a new-look UCLA (5-3) Saturday at 3 p.m. in State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks.

“They’re a typical Mick [Cronin] team,” Holtmann said. “They’re physical, they rebound it well. Probably as good a defensive team as we’ll play all year. Certainly the best defensive team we’ve played up to this point, both with their size and just their physicality.

“So it’s a well-coached team, and we’re excited about the challenge on Saturday.”

Ohio State is expecting a sellout crowd for its non-conference bout with the soon-to-be Big Ten Bruins. The neutral site game will be a homecoming of sorts for Buckeyes star point guard Bruce Thornton, who hails from nearby Fairburn, Georgia. Holtmann said he’s excited for Thornton to get an opportunity to play in front of friends and family.

What’s more, Holtmann is encouraged that Ohio State will get a chance to once again align itself with three blue blood basketball schools in an event he loves.

“There’s great value in us as a program aligning ourselves with that,” he said. “And we’re unique in that sense, obviously, being a school that is just a little bit different in terms of those three schools. So it’s great.

“It’s always good teams. It’s always good competition. You’re almost always playing tournament teams, some that are high seeds. Last year was a little bit unique, but, most of the time, you’re going to be playing teams that are tournament teams. I think UCLA is a bonafide tournament team. I know how they’ll continue to grow and get better.”

Holtmann added: “But the event in general, zero complaints. I just love being in it.”

RELATED

• Quick hitters from Chris Holtmann UCLA preview press conference
• 10 stats to know about Buckeyes after 10 games
• Notebook: Unpacking first Buckeyes B1G road test — what went right, what went wrong?

Ohio State football transfer portal notebook: Week Two of portal activity

The transfer portal has been open for 12 days. Lettermen Row took what it’s learned from the portal’s first couple of weeks and is emptying the notebook. 

Ohio State had a couple visits lined up with transfer defensive linemen that were ultimately tabled. That said, the Buckeyes are, in fact, hosting a linebacker from out west on an official visit.

But what about the quarterback situation? Well, we have the latest there, too.

Check it out here.

RELATED

• Buckeyes set to host two defensive transfer portal targets
• Latest on Ohio State quarterback search, potential staff changes, and prospects flipping

Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal

Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?

Lettermen Row has you covered.

The Buckeyes have already seen 14 of their scholarship players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord, starting wide receiver Julian Fleming and key running back Chip Trayanum — and there could be more on the way soon.

Follow along here to stay up to date.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 350 days

Are you a Lettermen Row member yet?

Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on X, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.