Lexington real estate; ryan.ogara00@gmail.com
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Articles by Ryan O'Gara
Even if Jim Harbaugh returns to Michigan, the damage has been done
Ryan O'Gara | 1 day ago Once again, the looming question for Michigan is whether Jim Harbaugh is going to be back next season. Last offseason, it was about whether Michigan wanted Harbaugh. This time around, it’s whether Harbaugh wants Michigan. It’s obviously in best interest of Michigan for Harbaugh to return as head coach. He showed why in helping Michigan to its best season in nearly 25 years. Even if he does come back, though, the damage has been done.
Scott Frost's big bet: Short-term gains for a long-term future at Nebraska
Ryan O'Gara | 1 day ago As the second National Signing Day approaches this week, Nebraska won’t generate much buzz. The Huskers are going to sign just 1 blue-chip recruit this cycle. They have the No. 13 class in the Big Ten and the No. 49 class nationally. And yet, there’s a an argument to be made that no B1G team has retooled its roster more effectively this offseason than Scott Frost and Nebraska. Call it the Michigan State Model.
3 B1G QBs I'm buying and 3 I'm selling heading into 2022
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago The Big Ten didn’t have a ton of hype coming into this season in terms of quarterbacks. CJ Stroud and Cade McNamara were untested. Aidan O’Connell wasn’t even starting. But those guys all had very good seasons. And now, their stocks are sky high. They would’ve been good investments before last season. If this current crop of Big Ten quarterbacks were stocks, here’s who I’d be buying and here’s who I’d be selling: Buying 1.
The 10 most important B1G players who turned down the 2022 NFL Draft for another year in college
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago While there were plenty of Big Ten stars to opt not to return to college, here are the 10 most important players who chose to come back for another season: 10. DE Zach Harrison (Ohio State) Harrison hasn’t quite had the same impact as the Bosa brothers or Chase Young, but he is a solid player in his own right, having been an All-Conference selection this season. And the Buckeyes need all the help they can get on defense. 9.
Why Michigan's QB situation reminds me of Alabama in 2018, and the lessons to take from Nick Saban
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago Perhaps the most intriguing storyline in the Big Ten this spring will play out in Ann Arbor. Can Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara hold off rising sophomore JJ McCarthy? Or will the 5-star recruit pass up the incumbent starter of Michigan’s first B1G champion in 17 years? I don’t think anyone knows the answer to that question, even Jim Harbaugh. That’s why this is going to be a fascinating situation to follow.
If Wisconsin wants to land a player like Caleb Williams, it needs a more appealing offense
Ryan O'Gara | 15 hours ago If it happened, it would be one of the biggest stunners in the short history of the transfer portal. Former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams, quite possibly the best player in the portal this offseason, was linked to Wisconsin recently. There’s probably not much to it other than the obvious comparisons to former Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson, who transferred to Madison for 1 season before getting drafted in the third round.
Ryan Day, after a staff overhaul, is at a crossroads at Ohio State
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago The early days of the Ryan Day era were like every honeymoon phase —pure bliss. For 2 years, Ohio State didn’t lose a regular season game. The Buckeyes made the national title game in 2020 and came a Justin Fields/Chris Olave miscommunication from making another in 2019. Ohio State hadn’t just picked up where it left off post Urban Meyer — it looked better. But 2021, Day’s third season, was bumpier.
Finally, Nebraska has the right idea with quarterbacks
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago After an eventful couple weeks in Lincoln, I think it’s safe to conclude that Nebraska and Scott Frost are approaching the quarterback position much more logically than in the past few years. The Huskers have added 2 high-profile QBs via the transfer portal in the last 10 days, Casey Thompson (Texas) and Chubba Purdy (Florida State).
B1G debate: Way-too-early hot takes for the 2022 season
Ryan O'Gara | 10 hours ago Editor’s note: Ryan O’Gara and Connor O’Gara grew up following sports in suburban Chicago. The brothers, separated by 20 months, debated about their favorite teams and players so often that their father would often have to remind them, “This isn’t PTI.” Each Friday, they’re bringing that debate to you, centered around the Big Ten and college football as a whole. This week’s debate: What are your way-too-early hot takes for the 2022 season?
In terms of B1G's most disappointing position groups, Penn State's running backs top the list
Ryan O'Gara | 4 hours ago There was a time just a few years ago when James Franklin didn’t know what to do. The Penn State offense shuffled in a different running back each series for the first half of the season. In the first 4 games of the season, no running back had more than 10 carries. Each of the 4 had between 19 and 26 carries heading into October.
B1G Monday Morning: Examining the offseason momentum of each Big Ten program in 2022 (7 up, 7 down)
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago As former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler once reportedly said, “Every day, you either get better or worse. You never stay the same.” Let’s apply that philosophy to the 2022 offseason for each Big Ten team. Here are 7 teams with positive momentum heading into the offseason and 7 that are on the decline, relatively speaking. Illinois: Up All in all, this was a pretty good first season for Bret Bielema.
As Kirk Ferentz shows, what's best for 1 program isn't necessarily best for college football as a whole
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago About a month ago, as college football’s coaching carousel went absolutely bonkers with Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley, it hit me: Iowa fans have never experienced the joys and agony of any of this. Like the disappointment of getting your coach stolen out from under you, or unexpectedly swiping someone else’s guy. Or the excitement fans get from finally firing an underachieving head coach, and then the optimism that comes with the next hire.
Bryce Young and CJ Stroud are the new Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields
Ryan O'Gara | 14 hours ago It’s incredibly early to start talking about the 2022 season, the Heisman Trophy and the 2023 NFL Draft, but since the book is officially closed on 2021, the lookaheads to next season have begun. A clear storyline has already developed: Bryce Young and CJ Stroud are the new Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields.
Iowa's returnees are great, but 2022 still comes down to the QB
Ryan O'Gara | 1 day ago Iowa has had a ton of great news in recent weeks, the kind of news that should set the tone for a strong 2022. What program wouldn’t love to have a week where their best players announce they are coming back for another year? That’s exactly what has happened with Iowa. Linebacker Jack Campbell, cornerback Riley Moss and tight end Sam LaPorta are all coming back for another year.
Nebraska football: Way-too-early look at 2022
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago This is part of series previewing the 2022 outlook for Big Ten teams. Previously: Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Purdue, Indiana, Minnesota *** Perhaps no fan base was more excited to see the calendar turn to 2022 than Nebraska’s. That’s because 2021 was a tough year for one of the most passionate fan bases in not only the Big Ten, but the country.
A few B1G teams are already being slept on in 2022, plus other Too-Early Top 25 observations
Ryan O'Gara | 23 hours ago One of my favorite things to do on the morning after the national championship is to look at all of the “Way Too Early Top 25 Rankings” pieces from the national media. I don’t think these should be taken too seriously, because so much will happen in the next 8 months — coaching changes (Jim Harbaugh?), spring practice, more transfers and unfortunately, injuries. And then, of course, the actual games will dictate the rankings.
What the B1G's best teams must learn from Alabama and Georgia
Ryan O'Gara | 5 hours ago If I didn’t know any better, Monday’s national championship kind of looked like a Big Ten game. The game was in Indiana, and there were 5 field goals and no touchdowns in the first half. All it needed was a little fake snow and a few more punts. But it most certainly was not The Big Ten in the national title game. The conference has made just 2 appearances in the last 14 years, both by Ohio State. Right now, the sport is dominated by the SEC and Clemson. That’s just a fact.
Alabama's Jameson Williams is a great story, but let's not overhype him
Ryan O'Gara | 10 hours ago As it relates to the Big Ten, Jameson Williams is by far the most intriguing storyline in Monday’s national championship game between Alabama and Georgia. The Ohio State transfer has starred for Alabama, turning into Bryce Young’s No. 1 option. He is 5th in the country in receiving yards and 9th nationally in terms of yards per game. He’s had an unbelievable season for Alabama, and he’s a walking advertisement for the benefits of the transfer portal.
In Casey Thompson, Scott Frost gets what he needed most
Ryan O'Gara | 14 hours ago It’s no secret that Nebraska desperately needed a quarterback out of the transfer portal after Adrian Martinez left for Kansas State. Even if Martinez stayed, the Huskers, who were 3-9 last season and haven’t been to a bowl game since 2016, probably should have considered one. On Friday, 3 weeks after Martinez committed to Kansas State, Nebraska finally landed one: Texas transfer Casey Thompson.
B1G Debate: The most impressive/underwhelming performances in bowl games
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago Editor’s note: Ryan O’Gara and Connor O’Gara grew up following sports in suburban Chicago. The brothers, separated by 20 months, debated about their favorite teams and players so often that their father would often have to remind them, “This isn’t PTI.” Each Friday, they’re bringing that debate to you, centered around the Big Ten and college football as a whole. This week’s debate: Which Big Ten team was the most impressive during bowl games?
Aidan Hutchinson's legacy, draft stock shouldn't take a hit after Georgia game
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago Going into the College Football Playoff, there was a ton of attention on potential No. 1 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. The Heisman Trophy runner-up had been a game-wrecker all season. But Hutchinson was a bit underwhelming in Michigan’s loss to Georgia. In fact, there are a couple of plays where he just looks … well, not like a Heisman finalist. Aidan Hutchinson on skates.
Michigan's young core is a reason for optimism despite Georgia loss
Ryan O'Gara | 2 days ago Even in the ugliest of defeats on the biggest of stages, Michigan should walk away with its collective head held high. It wasn’t the ending the Wolverines hoped for, but they had a heck of a run. While there wasn’t a ton for Michigan fans to be excited about in the loss to Georgia, there were a few positives. And Michigan’s young core was at the center of them. For whatever reason, Michigan looked out of place against Georgia — a step slow and a tad tentative.
Of all the recent player movement, these 3 announcements were most important in the B1G
Ryan O'Gara | 4 hours ago There’s been a ton of activity in the Big Ten and the rest of college football this week — guys entering the transfer portal, declaring for the NFL Draft or announcing returns to their current teams. Of all the B1G announcements, though, there are 3 that stand out: Jayden Reed coming back to Michigan State for 1 more season, Northwestern’s Brandon Joseph entering the transfer portal and Minnesota running back Ky Thomas entering the transfer portal.
B1G Monday Morning: Michigan's ugly loss reflects a few unfortunate truths in college football
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago I didn’t see this coming, but maybe I should’ve. A sport that has been dominated by the South will once again feature 2 teams from the South in the national championship. And once again, the College Football Playoff semifinals were absolute duds. Those are the 2 unfortunate truths in college football right now. There are exceptions once in a while, like Ohio State busting that party down South last year.
1 B1G takeaway from every team in bowl games
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago One last time for the 2021 season, here’s 1 B1G takeaway from each team from its bowl game: Michigan — Simply not good enough Michigan was the best team in the Big Ten, but it was obviously not on par with Georgia (or Alabama). There’s no debating that. It doesn’t mean Michigan didn’t deserve to be there, either. For whatever reason, Michigan didn’t show up, with several plays where it seemed to quit.
B1G Year in Review: Michigan's triumph, a men's basketball flop and a much smoother year than 2020
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago What a difference a year makes. Maybe that’s cliché, but in the case of the Big Ten, it’s just the truth. The year 2020 in the B1G was marked by indecision, poor leadership, and to a certain extent, controversy. Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren showed his inexperience in dealing with the pandemic, creating an unfavorable situation for Ohio State and the rest of the league members. But 2021 was great for all the reasons that 2020 fell short.
Why Ohio State's opt-out situation is different from the rest of college football
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago I cringe with each and every bowl opt-out, even if I understand why. Hey, I’m selfish as a fan. I want to watch the best players square off. So I’m bummed to not see Big Ten stars like Kenneth Walker III, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Tyler Goodson, Jahan Dotson and many others (like half of Penn State’s starting defense) over the next few days. While these results apparently don’t matter (since the SEC is 0-4), it’s still a great opportunity to showcase the Big Ten.
Michigan's rise should give everyone else in college football a little hope
Ryan O'Gara | 5 hours ago We all have an idea of what it takes to succeed in today’s college football landscape. Sometimes, it seems a little formulaic. You need a great coach, and if your coach fails, fire him and hire a new one. Stars matter, and you need to stack top recruiting classes on top of each other year after year to compete on the national stage. And now, with the one-time transfer rule, you have to scour the transfer portal to find guys who can make an immediate impact.
Why a throwaway game late last season against Rutgers was the foundation for Michigan's championship season
Ryan O'Gara | 19 hours ago On the heels of a lopsided loss to Wisconsin on Nov. 14, 2020, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh put it bluntly: “We’re not in a good place right now as a football team.” The Wolverines hit rock bottom with a 38-point home loss (their worst since 1935) to a Badgers squad that had been rocked by COVID. With 3 straight losses, Michigan was going nowhere fast, with morale at an all-time low under Harbaugh. Their quarterback of the future, Joe Milton, looked lost.
Even after losing a top-50 recruit, it's all worked out for Michigan at running back
Ryan O'Gara | 4 hours ago I’ll admit, I had a pit in my stomach for Michigan fans in the early part of this season. Watching former Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet tear it up for UCLA in the early part of this season, I feared Michigan made a terrible mistake in letting Charbonnet slip away.
B1G Bowl Primer: Michigan is playing with house money, and the pressure is all on Georgia
Ryan O'Gara | 10 hours ago Everything you need to know about the B1G’s bowl slate. Game of the Week: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Georgia (-7.5) in Orange Bowl (Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m.) The stakes Obviously, a spot in the national championship is on the line. But in the bigger picture, the Big Ten’s reputation is on the line. For so long, the Big Ten has solely been about Ohio State in terms of national relevance.
The best Christmas gift for every B1G team in 2021
Ryan O'Gara | 7 hours ago Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas! If I were Santa Claus, here’s what I would be giving each Big Ten team: Illinois — Another win Man, how bad did Bret Bielema want to go bowling this year? The coach said he was waiting by the phone for a call, but Rutgers got it instead. I’ll be honest, I love that Illinois and Rutgers both wanted to go bowling, even if not all in the media agree.
B1G Debate: Which team is most likely to win? To lose? And other bowl-related topics
Ryan O'Gara | 3 hours ago Editor’s note: Ryan O’Gara and Connor O’Gara grew up following sports in suburban Chicago. The brothers, separated by 20 months, debated about their favorite teams and players so often that their father would often have to remind them, “This isn’t PTI.” Each Friday, they’re bringing that debate to you, centered around the Big Ten and college football as a whole. This week’s debate: Which B1G team is most likely to win its bowl game? And which team is most likely to lose?
It's time for creative solutions to incentivize playing in bowl games
Ryan O'Gara | 4 hours ago I love bowl season. Always have. It’s basically 3 straight weeks of games featuring matchups we don’t normally get to see, dropped right in the middle of a bunch of time off school or work. What more could we ask for? But it’s obvious that these games are declining in importance to the players, as more and more opt out of them each year.
After making it through this coaching carousel (mostly) unscathed, B1G teams set up for success in 2022
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago It’s been a wild couple months in college football, but it appears we are heading for calmer waters. All FBS head coaching positions are currently filled, so the coaching carousel should be winding down. Barring a college coach jumping to the NFL (Ryan Day?) or a coach randomly stepping down early in 2022 (like Mark Dantonio 2 years ago), coaching staffs are pretty much set at this point.
As frustrating as bowl opt-outs are, they won't tarnish a victory
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago When the bowl matchups came out, Michigan State versus Pitt in the Peach Bowl was one of the most intriguing games. It pitted 2 of the country’s most prolific offensive players against each other, Kenneth Walker III and Kenny Pickett. And it provided a great opportunity for 2 of the country’s most surprising programs to end the season on a high note, with a New Year’s Six victory. As the game approaches, though, a lot of that excitement is waning.
Looking back, these were the 10 most baffling B1G games of 2021
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago Throughout the course of a season, there are certain games that make you go, “Huh?” Then we learn a little bit more about teams and they make sense. These are the top 10 games involving Big Ten teams from the 2021 season that still are confusing in retrospect: 10. Michigan 20, Rutgers 13 (Sept. 25) Michigan never trailed in this one and led 20-3 at halftime. But Rutgers refused to go away, and Michigan never could put this one away.
Projecting which 10 B1G signees will have the biggest impact in 2022
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago Projecting that a player will make an impact as a true freshman is an inexact science. It has to be the right situation, and the player has to be physically ready to play against guys 3 and 4 years older than him. It’s not like you can just go by recruiting rankings, either.
Every B1G team's biggest remaining recruiting need
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago Now that the dust has settled and a large portion of 2022 recruits have officially signed, it’s time to evaluate each class and figure out where each B1G program needs to focus over the next few months in the transfer portal and for National Signing Day on Feb. 2. Indiana: Quarterback(s) No, that wasn’t a typo, Tom Allen really does have the No. 4 class in the Big Ten, with 5 4-star recruits signed. There is a notable omission from this very good class, though: a QB.
B1G Debate: Should recruiting rankings make Big Ten consider shuffling divisions?
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago Editor’s note: Ryan O’Gara and Connor O’Gara grew up following sports in suburban Chicago. The brothers, separated by 20 months, debated about their favorite teams and players so often that their father would often have to remind them, “This isn’t PTI.” Each Friday, they’re bringing that debate to you, centered around the Big Ten and college football as a whole. This week’s debate: Should recruiting rankings make the Big Ten consider shuffling divisions?
Projecting which B1G QB recruits will have the biggest impact in 2022
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago There were quite a few new quarterbacks to officially join the Big Ten on Wednesday, as 12 programs signed QBs. While contributing right away as a true freshman at any position is very difficult, much less QB, it’s not unheard of. No, none of these guys are going to win a starting job right away in fall camp. But at some point, there could be a few who are needed to step in and contribute. So let’s project which ones could potentially make an impact in 2022.
1 thing to know about every B1G QB who signed Wednesday
Ryan O'Gara | 7 hours ago The Early Signing Day was an eventful one, and not just for an HBCU signing the No. 1 overall player in the country. There were 12 B1G teams that signed quarterbacks on Wednesday.
Big Ten teams, specifically out West, need to capitalize on booming QB market
Ryan O'Gara | 20 hours ago Take a look around college football and you’ll notice that it’s not just the coaches jumping from program to program; the quarterbacks are as well. And why shouldn’t they? Only one QB plays at a time, and it’s natural to look for a better opportunity to showcase your skills. Especially in today’s era where parents spend insane amounts of time and money taking their kids to private QB training and showcases, I wouldn’t fault any player for looking elsewhere.
Power ranking the B1G's defensive coordinators in 2021
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago When ranking the offensive coordinators in the Big Ten, it was like a process of elimination starting at the bottom of the list. But on the defensive side, the Big Ten had no shortage of great seasons from its coordinators. That made it tough to rank them. When your defense leads the country in interceptions and you can’t crack the top 3 of this list, you know it’s a good one. Here are the top-performing defensive coordinators in the Big Ten this season: 14.
Power ranking every B1G offensive coordinator in 2021
Ryan O'Gara | 2 hours ago The Big Ten didn’t exactly light it up offensively in 2021. Not that it was expected to, anyway. Ohio State had the No. 1 offense in the country, and Michigan was the only other top-20 offense, and it was all the way down at No. 19. There were 5 B1G offenses in the bottom 20. A lot of Big Ten offenses underachieved, so really, it was easier to work backward when ranking the conference’s offensive coordinators: 14.
Power ranking the performances of Big Ten head coaches in 2021
Ryan O'Gara | 10 hours ago With the 2021 regular season in the books, let’s take a look at the head coaches in the Big Ten and rank them on performance: 14. Tom Allen (Indiana) This is a no-brainer. The Hoosiers were ranked 17th to open the season and did not win a single Big Ten game. That’s almost unfathomable. Allen was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2020, and he is the worst in 2021. Things sure change quickly in college football. 13.
B1G Debate: Which Big Ten bowl game is most intriguing? Who has the most to prove?
Ryan O'Gara | 4 hours ago Editor’s note: Ryan O’Gara and Connor O’Gara grew up following sports in suburban Chicago. The brothers, separated by 20 months, debated about their favorite teams and players so often that their father would often have to remind them, “This isn’t PTI.” Each Friday, they’re bringing that debate to you, centered around the Big Ten and college football as a whole. This week’s debate: Which Big Ten bowl game is most intriguing? And which team has the most to prove?
B1G Monday Morning: In appreciation of Michigan's truly dominant season; plus other Big Ten bowl thoughts
Ryan O'Gara | 11 hours ago Michigan, which started the season unranked and seemed like an iffy bet to finish in the top half of the East Division, just wrapped up one of the B1G’s most impressive non-Ohio State regular seasons we’ve seen in quite a while with a 42-3 demolition of Iowa. It’s the kind of thing that even the most optimistic Michigan fan didn’t see coming.
Look around the rest of the Power 5 conferences, and you'll see why the Big Ten desperately needed this from Michigan
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago The Big 12 is kicking itself. The Pac-12 is kicking itself. The ACC is kicking itself. The best teams in their conferences (Oklahoma, Oregon and Clemson) sputtered this season, and they didn’t have another contender emerge. The Big Ten, meanwhile, could’ve been in a similar situation as those conferences. Ohio State wasn’t at the level it has been the last few years, but fortunately for the B1G, Michigan stepped up and is firing on all cylinders.
Iowa must learn that defense alone will not win it a championship
Ryan O'Gara | 1 hour ago For those of you who tuned in Saturday night hoping for chaos — or at least a competitive game — well, I’m sorry. Actually, I’m not the one who should be apologizing. That responsibility belongs to Iowa’s offense. Once again, No. 13 Iowa’s offense was pitiful in the 42-3 loss to No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. This was nothing new, of course.
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