Buckeye Bits: NCAA rules on preseason football schedule, 2020 Blue-Chip Ratio revealed

The news that we have been inundated with recently hasn’t exactly been of the enjoyable variety; pandemics, protests, stock market drops. But, we’ve got all of the Ohio State news that’s fit to print here in today’s edition of Buckeye Bits.

From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

Multiple top prospects include Ohio State in top-10, No. 1 receiver talks OSU recruitment

Me, LGHL

Look, I am jonesing for a BOOM. I want it. I need it. Give it to me NOW!

The Basketball Tournament coming to Columbus in July

Also Me, LGHL

This is the most fitting and appropriate decision possible. Carmen’s Crew is the defending TBT champions, and if the ‘Rona is going to force The Tournament to play in a single location, it might as well be in the champs’ backyard.

Ohio State’s Chase Young named Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year

Brett Ludwiczak, LGHL

The Predator picked up yet another honor, and this one — at least to me — is especially poignant. The B1G’s Male Athlete of the Year Award is named after Ohio State legend Jesse Owens. I obviously don’t need to tell you the history, but not only was Owens one of the greatest track athletes in history, but his four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics — an effective middle finger to Adolph Hitler — is something that brings me as much pride to be a Buckeye as anything else.

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From around the gridiron...

College football’s return takes big step forward with oversight committee ruling

Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports

It’s a little convoluted, but essentially the NCAA’s football oversight committee has recommended that teams be able to “have access to their players” beginning on July 13. This would obviously be beyond the voluntary workouts that are currently occurring. This would allow players to engage in strength workouts and film breakdown sessions with coaches for eight hours per week for two weeks.

Then, after those two weeks, they would be allowed to have two 20-hour weeks that would include more traditional football activities, including walkthroughs. These weeks are being compared to NFL OTAs where they wouldn’t be complete, traditional practices, but would involve more than they normally can do before the official fall camp begins.

Finally, following those four weeks of additional practices, the traditional fall camps can kick off as previously scheduled on Aug. 7. Before this plan officially goes into place, the NCAA Division I Council will have to approve it. But, that is practically a forgone conclusion ahead of their meeting next Wednesday, June 17.

Blue-Chip Ratio 2020: The 15 teams who can win a national title

Bud Elliott, 247Sports

Read ‘em and weep, folks. The only teams able to win a national title this season have been officially announced. If your favorite team (other than OSU) isn’t on the list, better luck next year, time to start focusing a bit more on recruiting.

Keep in mind that the percentages below are of blue-chip players (for or five-star prospects) on a team’s roster, and should not be construed as a team’s chances to win the title. As Bud has explained it for years, once you cross the 50 percent blue-chip ratio, everybody is on theoretically equal footing.

Three Buckeyes named to Walter Camp Preseason All-American Team

Al Carbone, Walter Camp Football Foundation

The Buckeyes are represented by three players on the Walter Camp Preseason All-American list for 2020; offensive lineman Wyatt Davis was named to the first team offense, while quarterback Justin Fields was named to the second team. Cornerback Shaun Wade was named to the second team defense.

I’m going to make a prediction that more than three OSU players end up on the postseason All-American Team.

Ohio State’s Most and Least Likely Candidates to Redshirt in 2020

Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

There is so much that can happen over the course of a summer, camp, and season that plays into who does and doesn’t redshirt during their freshman season, but this breakdown by Hope will be very helpful as we start to figure out which new names we need to start learning from the get-go.

Lindy’s joins chorus of preseason picks with Ohio State at No. 1

Steve Helwagen, 247Sports

We all know that the Buckeyes are No. 1 in our collective heart, but an increasing number of preseason publications are placing them there as well. Joining 247Sports, Lindy’s Sports revealed that they have OSU in the preseason top spot with the release of their preview magazine. Athlon Sports has Ohio State at third (behind Clemson and Alabama) and Street & Smith has Clemson at 1, OSU at 2, and ‘Bama at 3.

Forgive me, but I’m waiting on the granddaddy of them all Phil Steele to drop his epic preview magazine, as well as for the new kid in town, our friend Pick Six Previews, to reveal his preseason rankings. Who is going to be next to have some guts and put Ryan Day’s squad at No. 1?

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From around the hardwood...

Seth Towns’ proud path to the back of a police van

Jeff Eisenberg, Yahoo Sports

If you read this article and don’t immediately sign up for the lifetime membership option in the Seth Towns fan club, I don’t know what it is that you want. I’ve already written about the pride that Buckeye fans should have in their new basketball star (see below), but to read the words of Towns and his mother shows just how special an individual Chris Holtmann has welcomed into the OSU basketball family.

Ohio State’s webinar series to feature Buckeye basketball legend Katie Smith

Sarah Wynn, ABC 6

Look, when the G.O.A.T. is going to host a seminar to discuss the state of women’s sports following the COVID-19 shutdown, you sign up and listen.

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From everywhere else...

Mask requirement among safety protocols for fans at The Memorial Tournament in Ohio

Bob Harig, ESPN

Look, I 100 percent believe that everybody should be wearing masks when they leave their homes, and I think that we are reopening businesses and resuming sports way too soon. But, nobody asked me my opinion (which they obviously shouldn’t).

However, we all know that there’s no way that The Memorial is going to be able to enforce this policy, right?

The Columbus Crew will be getting back to action in a few weeks in the MLS’s Orlando Tournament. Here’s the group draws for the tourney taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World.

The NHL is also currently gearing up to return, and the Columbus Blue Jackets got back to the practice ice today. Soon, the NHL will announce when and where the expanded Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin. Chances are fairly good that the CBJ could be hosting a hub at Nationwide.

First the Detroit Lions drafted something like 17 Buckeyes in the NFL Draft this spring, and now the Detroit Tigers take a Buckeye with the 38th pick in the MLB Draft. I guess if your state has been a sports dumpster fire for decades, you might as well turn to your far more successful neighbor for help.

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And now for something completely different...

Jim Harbaugh wishes that he could rock khaki like Jungle Jack.