Jeffrey Okudah
Alabama defensive back Patrick Surtain II (2) looks on against Notre Dame during the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Two of the best cornerbacks in the nation, Shaun Wade of Ohio State and Patrick Surtain of Alabama, will have their hands full on Monday night in South Florida. They are possibly the No. 1 and No. 2 NFL prospects at the position — which one is best is a matter of debate that the national championship game could help settle. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Top cornerbacks will play crucial role in championship game

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 07, 2021 05:26 PM 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

Ohio State defensive back Sevyn Banks, right, breaks up a pass intended for Indiana receiver Miles Marshall during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Indiana 42-35. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Hints at what's to come from CFP

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 23, 2020 05:36 AM EST

FILE - In this March 6, 2019, file photo, Ohio State University football coach Ryan Day gestures during an NCAA college football practice in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State’s spring practice likely will begin a competition to determine who will be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback in 2021. The contenders are highly touted freshmen Jack Miller or C.J. Stroud, both of whom were early enrollees and have been on campus since the beginning of the year. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)
Spring practice provides look at Ohio State's future QBs

By Mitch Stacy Mar. 02, 2020 01:39 PM EST

This photo provided by the Franklin County Ohio Sheriff shows Jahsen Wint. Police say two Ohio State University football players have been charged with rape and kidnapping. The Columbus Dispatch reports that 21-year-old defensive players Amir I. Riep and Jahsen L. Wint were booked into jail early Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (Franklin County Ohio Sheriff via AP)
2 Ohio State football players dismissed amid rape charges

By Mitch Stacy Feb. 12, 2020 06:01 AM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 file photo, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz. The playoff loss to Clemson that ended Ohio State’s season will sting for a long time, coach Ryan Day acknowledged Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. The Buckeyes will move on, but the terrible taste in their mouths will linger and, he hopes, motivate next season's team.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Ohio State's Day won't soon forget team's playoff stumble

By Mitch Stacy Jan. 15, 2020 06:09 PM EST

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields throws a pass against Clemson during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
AP Top 25 Reality Check: A familiar top 10 looking to 2020

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 14, 2020 02:22 PM EST

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade, right, tackles Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. Wade was ejected from the game for targeting. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Fiesta referee explains crucial calls that flipped semifinal

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2019 03:14 AM EST

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is congratulated after Clemson defeated Ohio State 29-23 in the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clutch Clemson: No. 3 Tigers beat No. 2 Ohio State 29-23

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 29, 2019 12:15 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields plays against Penn State during an NCAA college football game, in Columbus, Ohio. Fields, a sophomore and the Buckeyes’ Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback, said online classes allow him to split his time between studying at home or relaxing with Netflix and the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, where besides football facilities there is a new lavish lounge for players that offers made-to-order meals, massage chairs, video games on big screens and a cryogenic chamber. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Lingering knee issue still bothering Ohio State's Fields

John Marshall Dec. 24, 2019 03:00 PM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Ohio State coach Ryan Day watches during the second half of the team's Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in Indianapolis. A year ago, Day was a relatively unknown Ohio State assistant. This December he's reigning Big Ten coach of the year and is eyeing a national title after leading the Buckeyes to a 13-0 record as the successor to the retiring Urban Meyer. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Year sees Day rise from unknown assistant to celebrity coach

By Mitch Stacy Dec. 24, 2019 10:30 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, right, works against Florida Atlantic during an NCAA football game, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State said, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, the NCAA has concluded that star DE Chase Young must sit out one more football game before he can return. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)
Playoff matchups: OU slowdown vs LSU; Clemson keys on Young

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 24, 2019 09:51 AM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo. Minnesota defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) gestures during an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Minneapolis. Winfield was selected to The Associated Press All-America team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)
AP All-America teams dominated by LSU, Ohio State

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 16, 2019 12:02 PM EST

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

Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) hands Paul Bunyan's Axe to teammate linebacker Zack Baun (56) after Wisconsin beat Minnesota 38-17 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Cephus’ faith, family guided him to breakout ’19 for Badgers

By Keith Jenkins Dec. 04, 2019 05:15 PM EST

List of AP midseason All-America Team

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 15, 2019 12:04 PM EDT
The Associated Press midseason All-America team presented by Regions Bank. FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Quarterback — Joe Burrow,...

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2019, file photo, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor runs against Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Madison, Wis. Taylor was selected to the AP Midseason All-America NCAA college football team, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)
AP Midseason All-America Team: Burrow, Taylor lead 1st team

By Ralph D. Russo Oct. 15, 2019 12:03 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019, file photo, Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah breaks up a pass intended for Washington wide receiver Aaron Fuller during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. NFL scouts already had taken notice of Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, even though the junior had yet to record an interception in his first two years. Now Okudah has three picks in the past two weeks and his NFL stock is rising. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
All-America Watch: Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah on the rise

By Mitch Stacy Oct. 01, 2019 03:56 PM EDT

Ohio State running back Master Teague III (33) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Fear of 'slip-ups' continuing to fuel No. 4 Buckeyes' roll

By Eric Olson Sep. 29, 2019 03:42 PM EDT

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
No. 5 Ohio St. throttles Huskers 48-7 behind Fields, defense

By Eric Olson Sep. 28, 2019 10:50 PM EDT