The Pittsburgh Steelers had two rostered quarterbacks before the 2025 NFL Draft: Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, both former backups. And instead of prioritizing the position, like many expected, the Steelers waited until Day 3 to draft their guy. Ohio State’s championship-winning quarterback, Will Howard, is headed to Pittsburgh.

Howard, who grew up near Philadelphia, hoped to be drafted by the Steelers as he waited for a call, at one point saying, “Please pick me, Pittsburgh. Please pick me, please!”

His family is “all Eagles fans, but now they’re going to be some damn Steelers fans,” Howard told Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin over the phone.

Howard’s enthusiasm and work ethic have immediately impressed Pittsburgh’s coaching staff. He reportedly reached out to Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth for plays just a day after being drafted, eager to get a head start on, he hopes, becoming Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback.

“[Arth] wrote [Will] back and said, ‘Hey, we were going to give you the weekend off, but this is why we drafted you, because it’s the kind of worker you are,’” said Howard’s mother.

While the possibility of the Steelers landing Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins isn’t out the window, a quarterback room of Rudolph, Thompson and Howard could be wide open for the rookie to seize a larger role. And if Howard is who Pittsburgh hopes he is, the team may have finally found a long-term option at quarterback.

Ohio State won the College Football Playoff national title on Monday night with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame. The Buckeyes built their championship roster using about $20 million from NIL (name, image, and likeness) funds.

Ohio State is believed to have one of the top NIL “payrolls” in college sports this year, distributing more funds to their football team than many schools allocate across all their athletic programs combined.

Their heavy hitters include “THE Foundation,” which is a booster and donor collective with nonprofit and for-profit divisions, and the 1870 Society, which offers Buckeyes fans exclusive access to their favorite teams while expanding earning opportunities for their athletes. Reports indicate that head coach Ryan Day was significantly involved in fundraising efforts.

The unregulated transfer portal and NIL have allowed a new era of “unrestricted free agency” to emerge, letting teams fully retool their rosters. Ohio State took full advantage, adding quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State and standout wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, but also saw some returning players choose to stay in Columbus rather than transfer or enter the NFL Draft.

Jack Sawyer, a standout defensive end and team captain, has been a pivotal player for the Buckeyes. Over the offseason, he dedicated his time to encouraging as many teammates as he could to come back for an additional year. He shared that the program has brought “great opportunities” from NIL all season.

However, Day was quick to dismiss claims that it played a big role in the Buckeyes’ championship win.

“You can say whatever you want about – people talked a lot about how much money guys were making in NIL and different things like that. That was just because NIL was available. The majority of our team came back. These guys have been here for a long time.”

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On Monday night, Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith set multiple records and was named Offensive Most Valuable Player of the game. The Crimson Tide reigned victorious over Ohio State to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Smith, who also won the Heisman Trophy last Tuesday, left the game early in the third quarter with a right-hand injury. He ended up back on the sidelines in the fourth quarter in regular clothes with a bandaged hand. After the game, Smith clarified that he had dislocated his finger but noted that he would “be all right,” according to ESPN.

While Smith was only in half the game, that was all he needed to make history. He caught 12 passes, which is a CFP title game record, and he accumulated 215 receiving yards, which was the second-most in a CFP or BCS game. Not only that, his three receiving touchdowns tied a BCS/CFP title game record set by Steve Smith of Southern California in 2005.

While Smith had to watch a portion of the game from the locker room, he credited his teammates for stepping up in his absence.

“It came down to the young guys just putting in the work, every day, every week, knowing if somebody went down, they were going to have to come in and do something big,” Smith told ESPN. “I believed in them from the jump. That’s what we do; that is why you come to Bama.”

Monday night marked the fifth time in Smith’s career that he registered 200 or more receiving yards in a game. Additionally, Smith, who first gained fame when he caught the winning pass in overtime of the 2018 CFP title game as a freshman, will be leaving Alabama as the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns with 46.

“Unbelievable,” Smith said of Alabama’s season. “We just finished writing our story; that was the whole thing of us coming back, just finishing the story that we wanted to write, and we did that.”

An irregular college football season concluded on Monday night, as the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide crushed the Ohio State Buckeyes to win the CFP National Championship game.

For the sixth time under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide are national champions, as they defeated Ohio State by a score of 52-24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in front of 14,926 people in the crowd.

Wide receiver DeVonta Smith had a big night in the championship game. Not only did he win Alabama’s Heisman trophy, but he was also named the offensive MVP. Smith was the first player to receive three touchdowns in a CFP National Championship game, and he set the record for the most interception with 12. Additionally, he holds the mark for receiving yards in half of the national championship game with 215.

Other Crimson Tide players who finished in the top five of the Heisman voting played spectacular games, especially Mac Jones. Junior quarterback Jones completed a career-high 36 passes and 464 yards in the team’s victory, passing his previous high of 33 completions and 435 yards passing in the 2020 SEC Championship Game vs. Florida. This was also his fifth 400-plus yard game this season.

“We just locked in, gave everything we could to win this game,” Jones told the media. “Obviously, there are decisions to be made. I’m going to make the best decision for me and my family.

“I’m blessed to put myself in a position to do either one, come back or hopefully go to the NFL. We’ll discuss that this week and see what my plan is. In terms of legacy, I mean, I think it’s cool,” said Jones.

Jones owns five of Alabama’s 11 all-time 400 plus yard passing performances, passing Tua Tagovailoa‘s record, which came during his junior campaign in 2019. His 36 completions tied Deshaun Watson of Clemson for the CFP national championship single-game record.

Two Ohio State football players face charges of rape and kidnapping stemming from an incident that occurred last week.

Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint, both 21, were charged with first-degree felonies in Franklin County, Ohio Municipal Court.

“We are aware that two of our students have been arrested and criminally charged,” Ohio State spokesman Ben Johnson said. “They have been suspended from all activities involving the football program. We will share more information when available.”

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

A woman told police that she and Riep were at his apartment, which he shares with Wint, on Feb. 4. They began to engage in consensual sex before the woman stopped and said she did not wish to continue.

Wint then entered the room and, after asking if he could join, allegedly grabbed the woman by her neck and raped her. Riep held her down with his body while Wint forced oral sex. The woman pushed Wint away, but he again forced her to have oral sex. All of this is according to the affidavit from the woman involved.

After the incident, it is alleged that Riep told the woman she needed to say what happened was consensual on video and that she needed to shower before driving her back home. This is all also according to her affidavit.

Riep, a senior cornerback from Cincinnati, has played in 37 games for the Buckeyes. Wint, a senior safety from Brooklyn, New York, has played in 35 games.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court.

Ohio State defensive end and Heisman finalist Chase Young has announced he will enter this upcoming NFL draft. In an Instagram post Friday, he wrote, “After an amazing three years at Ohio State, it’s time for me to begin the next chapter. I’m excited to finally announce my declaration for the 2020 NFL draft.”

Aside from being a Heisman finalist, Young also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an award given to the top college defensive player.

Young certainly was the most dominant player on defense this year, recording 16.5 sacks and forcing six fumbles in 12 games.

He was suspended for two games for violating NCAA rules when he accepted a loan from someone he described as a “family friend.”

“I am excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” wrote Young. “I look forward to joining a new family in the NFL this spring and being part of something special. Thank you all again and see you soon on Sundays. God bless and go Bucks!”

The Buckeyes have proved impressive this season, despite losing to Clemson in the semifinal Fiesta Bowl 29-23.

However, they will also lose running back J.K. Dobbins and defensive back Jeff Okudah to the draft this year. Young is expected to be a top-five draft pick.

The native of Maryland could play close to home, potentially taking the field for the Washington Redskins, joining former teammates quarterback Dwayne Haskins and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

Haskins reached out via Twitter and wrote, “See you soon.”

The Redskins hold the No. 2 overall pick and if the Bengals, who own the No. 1 pick, draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, then Washington could see another Buckeye join them on the field.

Two games tomorrow will decide which of the final four college football teams will represent their respective schools in the national championship. No.1 LSU will take on No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 4 p.m. ET, while No. 2 Ohio State will face No. 3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona at 8 p.m. ET.

LSU vs. Oklahoma

Heisman winner and star LSU quarterback Joe Burrow looks to continue a stellar season with a victory over the sooners, while veteran quarterback Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma looks to lead his team to a win.

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LSU star running back Clyde Edwards–Helaire suffered a hamstring injury in practice mid-December and is questionable to take the field on Saturday. He has rushed for 1,290 yards with 16 touchdowns, but has also caught 50 passes for 399 yards with one touchdown.

Oklahoma will be without star defensive back Ronnie Perkins, backup running back Rhamondre Stevenson and true freshman Trejan Bridges, due to suspensions for failing NCAA drug tests caused by ‘weed’.

Ohio State vs. Clemson

Ohio State’s two Heisman finalist QB Justin Fields and DE Chase Young are set to lead Ohio State in what is said to be the more competitive of the two matchups against Clemson star QB Trevor Lawrence and LT Jackson Carman.

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Young and Carman are a key matchup in this game as Carman will have to hold, will most likely some help, Young to keep him at bay.

The Lawrence-Fields matchup will be the big story of this game, as both quarterbacks have had impressive seasons. Lawrence has the knowledge and physical tools to distribute the ball quickly, as well as evade pressure regularly.

Fields, who has suffered some injuries, has continued to be dominant despite the setbacks. A fully healthy Fields would be a dynamic threat and will be needed agains the strong arm of Lawrence.

The defending national champions have gotten one step closer for a shot at repeating as they compete for a chance to get their third crown in four years. The third-ranked Clemson Tigers (13-0) crushed Virginia (9-4) by a final of 62-17, claiming their fifth straight ACC title and extending their win streak to 28 games in a row.

Virginia showed creativity in their execution early on, but as ACC teams know, if your not perfect on every snap, then Clemson will take you down. Although they seemed to make Clemson sweat in the beginning, the gap grew too great for the Cavaliers to bounce back.

Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins was 27 of 43 for 266 yards, throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also had 17 carries for 58 yards. Perkins had 324 of Virginia’s 387 yards, proving why he was the ACC’s leader in total offense. Wide receiver Hasise Dubois had 130 yards on the day with ten receptions and one touchdown.

Clemson’s offense seemed uncontainable with star quarterback Trevor Lawrence completing 16 of 22 for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Travis Etienne had 14 carries for 114 yards with one touchdown, while wide receiver Tee Higgins had 182 yards on nine receptions, scoring three touchdowns. Wide receiver Justyn Ross went 59-yards for a touchdown, making it the second longest in ACC Championship game history.

With Clemson having a solid hold on the number three spot, the debate now lies in whether or not they will face LSU or Ohio State in the semifinals. With no equals in the ACC, the Tigers certainly showed their claws, but will that be enough to match the SEC dominance of LSU or the Big Ten force in the Buckeyes.

Lucas Oil Stadium hosted the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday against first-ranked Ohio State (13-0) and eighth-ranked Wisconsin (10-3). Ohio State, who struggled in the first half against an eager Wisconsin, came back in the second to win their third straight Big Ten title by a final of 34-21.

The College Football Playoff selection committee is set to announce the four playoff teams Sunday as Ohio State lobbies to remain in the top spot. Head coach Ryan Day said, “They came out and played unbelievable in the second half. This team is unbelievable. I think we deserve to be No. 1.”

Wisconsin, whose lost seven straight in the series, came out with a quick 14 points, giving Ohio State their largest deficit of the season. At half, Wisconsin led 21-7. But Ohio State wouldn’t go down without a fight. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who seemed frazzled in the first half, looked confident as ever in the second and finished the day 19 of 31 with 299 yards and three touchdowns, earning him the game’s MVP. Running back J.K. Dobbins ran with 33 carries for 172 yards with one touchdown and wide receiver Chris Olave had five receptions for 94 yards.

Fields also passed Drew Brees for the second-most TD passes in one season in conference history with 40 passes. Brees threw 39.

Wisconsin did not go down easy though. The Badgers had a dominant first half, showing resilience against the mighty Buckeyes. Quarterback Jack Coan was 17 of 33 for 232 yards. Running back Jonathan Taylor had 20 carries for 148 yards with one touchdown and wide receiver Quintez Cephus had 122 yards on seven receptions.

With Ohio State looking to stay at number one, they will have to hope the committee sees them above LSU. As the Fiesta Bowl and the Peace Bowl will serve as the two national semifinals, the top teams anxiously await to see who will make the top four seeds and who will play who to compete for a spot in the CFP National Championship.

Bear Bryant coached until he was 68. Nick Saban is currently 69. But at only 54, Urban Meyer is retiring from Ohio State.

Meyer, who has a career record of 186-32, cited health problems as the main cause. The news at first comes as a shock. At his age, Meyer is one of the most accomplished head coaches of all time. He’s also one of the highest paid, making over $7.6 million with a contract through 2022. But Meyer has a history that points towards this.

Suspended Urban Meyer To Retire As Buckeyes Coach

As head coach of Florida, Meyer would abruptly resign following two national titles. He’s also got a well-documented health problem. “Yahoo Sports” reported that Meyer was suffering from severe headaches, possibly because of a congenital arachnoid cyst in his brain diagnosed in 1998. In October, it was reported that he underwent brain surgery during 2014. During the most recent season, Meyer was seen grabbing his head during a close game against Maryland and he also kneeled down in pain during a win over Indiana. Meyer has been with Ohio State since 2012.

Meyer leaves behind a complicated legacy. On one hand, he could have tied Bryant and Saban for the most NCAA National Championships. He brought Alex Smith to the spotlight, led Tim Tebow to a Heisman, and then saved Ohio State’s football program with third-string quarterback Cardale Jones. He also never lost to Michigan. This year, he beat the Wolverines 62-39 and earned a Rose Bowl berth.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

However, the news of Meyer’s retirement comes in the wake of his three-game suspension to start off the year. Meyer was aware that his longtime receivers coach Zach Smith was named in multiple allegations of domestic violence. Meyer did not report the allegations to Ohio State and then misled the media about it. He also presided over a Florida Gators program that had at least 25 players arrested and featured late New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez, who was convicted of homicide before dying in jai of neurodegenerative disease CTE.

Meyer may retire as one of the winningest college football coaches. But he also retires leaving behind plenty of shortcomings. Ryan Day, the Buckeyes’ 39-year-old offensive coordinator, will replace him as head coach. Day stepped in as the Buckeyes’ interim coach after Meyer’s suspension.

Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa withdrew from school to focus on the rehab of an injured core muscle, according to a Buckeyes announcement on Tuesday. The All-American presumably made the move to use his time and prep for the 2019 NFL Draft.

Ohio State’s Nick Bosa To Nurse Injury

“I was hopeful that Nick would be able to return to play again for us,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said in a statement. “I know this was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for Nick and his family, and I wish him well as he moves on to get himself 100 percent healthy and ready for his next chapter. I want to thank Nick for the remarkable efforts he gave for this program. He is a first-class young man who we have been honored to coach.”

Meyer also described meeting with the Bosa family. “It was very emotional,” he said. “We love Nick. The Bosa family has been awesome for Ohio State and the program. Nick is a first-class guy.”

Bosa, a junior, injured a core muscle during a 40-28 win over TCU on September 15. He’s been out recovering since after undergoing surgery to repair the muscle on September 20th. Bosa, the 2017 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, wasn’t cleared for team activities and was ruled out for the team’s game against Purdue this week.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Through three games, Bosa put up an incredible four sacks and six tackles for loss. He was also leading the team in tackles when he was injured.

Nick is the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, who also was a star at Ohio State. The elder Bosa went on to be the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Nick Bosa is currently ranked as the number one prospect in the upcoming draft, according to draft experts.

The injury isn’t expected to change Bosa’s draft status, and his move to withdraw from school should only help his draft stock as it reduces the risk of aggravating the injury.

Meyer has said he has yet to address Bosa’s departure with the team.

A scare in Death Valley and a comeback in Happy Valley highlighted a smooth weekend in college football, void of any major upsets. The polls reflect that.

AP Polls See Minor Adjustments

Moving up to No. 3, the Ohio State Buckeyes ascended from a two-score deficit on the road against Penn State in the biggest game of the weekend. This was a repeat of the last time the Buckeyes played the Nittany Lions, as they previously crumbled while up with two scores at home.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Notre Dame proved legitimate when the Irish beat Stanford at home, rising three spots to No. 6 in the nation. Close by, the Clemson Tigers avoided disaster for the second straight season against the Syracuse Orange, narrowly winning at home against the unranked opponent. Their skid showed in the poll, as they fell behind Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State to No. 4.

Alabama cruised to a 56-14 victory over Louisiana Lafayette, and saw backup quarterback Jalen Hurts take the field, meaning the option of redshirting is over. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence was knocked out of the game with a neck injury, which is reported as being a strain.

Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer was suspended three games on Wednesday night following an investigation into domestic abuse allegations against the Buckeyes’ former wide receivers coach Zach Smith.

Ohio State’s Urban Meyer Suspended

The university’s athletic director Gene Smith also received a suspension. The inquiry began after college football reporter Brett McMurphy wrote an article that asserted Meyer knew about domestic violence accusations against Zach Smith that dated back to 2015. A series of text messages between Meyer’s wife and Smith’s spouse Courtney were among the records examined as part of the probe.

Meyer also drew criticism earlier this year for not being fully transparent about how much he knew about his then-assistant coach’s history of violent behavior. Many reporters then accused Meyer of lying at College Football Media Day last month after the Buckeyes head coach clarified his comments on that day several weeks later.

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Several ESPN hosts reacted to the news about Meyer’s suspension with disgust toward the coach and Ohio State’s football program for covering up Smith’s behavior, which according to McMurphy also allegedly included sexual misconduct. Zach Smith reportedly took sexually inappropriate photos of himself during the Buckeyes’ visit to the White House in April 2015 after they won the national championship.

On ESPN’s Get Up!, Michelle Beadle blasted Meyer for not even “pretending to be a little bit sorry” during Ohio State’s press conference on Wednesday:

“In 11 hours, you couldn’t at least get up there and pretend to be a little bit sorry?” said Beadle. “You couldn’t say “look, this is an awful situation, it could have been handled a million times better,’ or ‘Courtney Smith, I’m sorry that you got dragged through this?’ You couldn’t even muster that, which tells me everything I need to know: that you have zero culpability in this, and you don’t think anything wrong happened, which is why I think the entire thing is a farce.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Beadle’s co-host Jalen Rose agreed that Meyer’s performance in the news conference was disgraceful, and added that the punishment given to the coach should have been more severe. He also said Zach Smith’s punishment should have gone beyond being fired, and called out the NCAA for not speaking out against the pair of Ohio State coaches. Rose also compared Meyer’s punishment to that of other former Buckeyes coaches or players, like NFL wide receiver Terrelle Pryor. 

“The NCAA, where are they? I hear about them when it’s something related to the players or a scandal,” said Rose. “And those three games you talked about: Terrelle Pryor and four other Ohio State players were suspended for five games. Guess what they did? Exchange jerseys, championship rings, and awards for tattoos. They got five games for that. [Los Angeles Rams running back] Todd Gurley was suspended four games in 2014 for accepting $3,000 in autograph memorabilia.”

“The NCAA doesn’t punish this behavior, it fosters this environment,” Rose added.

Among the other ESPN commentators who blasted the outcome of the Ohio State investigation and the punishments handed down were Stephen A. Smith — who said the Buckeyes football program “embarrassed itself” — and Paul Finebaum. 

The Ohio State Buckeyes put head football coach Urban Meyer on paid administrative leave Wednesday evening following an investigation into a 2015 domestic violence incident involving his former assistant coach Zach Smith.

Ohio State’s Urban Meyer Put On Paid Leave

“The university is conducting an investigation into these allegations,” the Buckeyes said in a statement shared by CBS Sports. “During the inquiry, Urban Meyer will be on paid administrative leave. Ryan Day will serve as acting head football coach during the investigation. We are focused on supporting our players and on getting to the truth as expeditiously as possible.”

Day is Ohio State’s offensive coordinator who has been named interim head coach.

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On Wednesday, a report surfaced that there was evidence Meyer, 54, was aware of the 2015 incident involving Smith, Ohio State’s wide receivers coach who was ultimately fired on July 23. Brett McMurphy, who works for CBS Sports and ESPN, discovered a series of text messages that Smith’s wife Courtney exchanged with Meyer’s wife Shelley.

“I am with you! A lot of women stay hoping it will get better,” Shelley wrote in one of the messages. “I don’t blame you! But just want u to be safe. Do you have a restraining order? He scares me.”

Courtney Smith also reportedly spoke to the wives of other Buckeyes staffers and assistant coaches.

“All the [coaches] wives knew,” Courtney Smith told McMurphy. “They all did. Every single one.”

There was also a modification in an October 2015 police report after the domestic abuse incident. An initial report said Zach Smith was arrested, but a later one stated he wasn’t.

Zach Smith denied allegations of the incident, despite having previously been accused of domestic violence while working as an assistant coach for Meyer with the Florida Gators in 2009. Meyer admitted he knew about this instance, during which Smith’s wife was reportedly pregnant and the assistant coach allegedly threw her against a wall.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Since joining Ohio State in 2012, Meyer has lead the Buckeyes to five division titles, a Big 10 Championship, the 2014 NCAA title and the team’s all-time biggest win streak (24 games). He is is one of the highest-paid head coaches in college football.

Ohio State went 12-2 last season and finished first in the Big Ten East. In April, Meyer signed an extension with the Buckeyes through the 2022 season. There is a clause in his contract that stipulates he must report any incidents of physical or sexual abuse to the university’s Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Athletics. Should he fail to comply, Ohio State could fire Meyer with cause.

Ohio State was the surprise team to end Purdue’s nation-best 19-game win streak on Wednesday night.

Ohio State vs. Purdue basketball score

The 16th-ranked Buckeyes edged their Big Ten rivals, the No. 3 Boilermakers, 64-63 at Purdue. Ohio State (21-5, 12-1 Big Ten) has now moved into a tie with Purdue (23-3, 12-1 Big Ten) for first place in the conference with their amazing record.

Conference Player of the Year candidate Keita Bates-Diop led the Buckeyes with 18 points and 11 rebounds, (in 39 minutes of play) including the game-winning shot with three seconds remaining after an offensive rebound.

“We’ve had this before,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “We’ve had stretches where we’ve allowed people to come back into games. If you keep doing it you’re going to allow people to get you, and tonight it got us.”

Isaac Haas had a chance to win it for the Boilermakers at the buzzer but his shot rimmed out. Haas finished with 18 points.

Purdue led by as much as 14 in the second half, but Ohio State kept making runs. The Boilermakers’ lead was then cut down to 1 on Andrew Dakich’s driving layup with 3:51 remaining.

The Buckeyes took their only lead of the second half with 1:01 left on Andre Wesson’s 3-pointer. Vincent Edwards came right back and answered with a conventional 3-point play to put Purdue up 63-62.

Ohio State out-rebounded Purdue by one, thus becoming the seventh straight team to out-rebound the Boilermakers.

The Buckeyes ranked 11th in a preseason poll of Big Ten media. However, they entered Wednesday’s game in second place under first-year head coach Chris Holtmann, formerly of Butler.

Ohio State played its second game without senior guard Kam Williams, who has been serving an ongoing suspension for a violation of team rules.

MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: Dakota Mathias #31 of the Purdue Boilermakers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Trae Bell-Haynes #2 of the Vermont Catamounts in the second half during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley released a statement Wednesday addressing a rape accusation against him, saying the claim is “completely false.”

Gareon Conley Denies Rape Allegation

Cleveland police told NFL.com Tuesday that Conley, who is viewed as a top defensive prospect in this Thursday’s NFL Draft, is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel in the city’s downtown area on April 9.

According to Cleveland Police Dept. spokeswoman Jennifer Ciaccia, the 21-year-old Buckeyes product has not been charged or arrested for the alleged incident,

Caccia added that no warrant has been issued, and that the department’s sex crimes and child abuse units are probing the claim.

Here is Conley’s full statement, released through his representatives, in response to the allegation. In the statement, he also announced he would no longer attend this week’s draft:

“The allegations against me concerning the night of April 8/9 that have recently been reported in multiple media outlets are completely false. I did not commit a crime and have not been charged with a crime,” the cornerback wrote.

I pride myself on doing things the right way on and off the field. The things being said about me and what happened that night are not true and don’t fit my character at all. I realize that I put myself in the situation and I could have used better judgement. However, I have worked tirelessly to put myself in position to have the honor of being an NFL draft pick and these untrue allegations are putting a huge cloud over my name and the NFL draft.

These allegations appear to be an attempt to ruin this once in a lifetime experience for me and my family. There were several witnesses, including another female, who were present the entire time and have given statements that give an accurate account of what took place. We also have video evidence that further discredit and disprove other versions of these events. I am upset but realize that I am powerless when false accusations are made and people try to convict you in the court of public opinion. It’s sad that your name can get dragged through the mud based upon untrue and malicious allegations alone.

I am completely confident that as the facts actually come out my name will be cleared. I was excited about participating in Thursday’s draft but I have decided that it would be selfish for me to stay and be a distraction to the NFL, the other players, and their families who have worked just as hard as me to enjoy the experience so I will not be in attendance.

I hope and look forward to the honor of being an NFL player and working to be the best representative, player, person, and teammate that I can be for the team and the community I will be in.”

Per a police report obtained by ESPN, the alleged assault occurred in the early morning hours of April 9 in downtown Cleveland. A 23-year-old woman told police she met Conley in the elevator of a hotel and he brought her back to his room. She claims that after she refused an offer of group sex with Conley and two friends, the former Buckeyes star had sex with her and then removed her from the room.

After reporting the incident, the woman went to a local hospital, where she was given a rape kit. However, the report added that the woman declined to speak with police.

The report also stated Conley’s friends said nothing occurred between him and his accuser, and that she was simply angry he asked her to leave.

Conley was No. 18 on Mel Kiper Jr.’s final Big Board for the 2017 NFL Draft. The cornerback was expected to be selected in the first round.

Rutgers finished last (14th) in the Big Ten at 3-15, yet the Scarlet Knights are one of the most improved teams in the country.

Rutgers Tops Ohio State in Big Ten Matchup

They demonstrated it once again on Wednesday night with a 66-57 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes (17-15, 10th in Big Ten) at the Verizon Center.

Rutgers (15-17) will next face sixth-seeded Northwestern (21-10, 5th in Big Ten) on Thursday night.

The Scarlet Knights’ first Big Ten Tournament victory of the season came under first-year coach Steve Pikiell, and promises good things for Rutgers’ basketball program.

“We learned how to compete this year,” said Pikiell, whose Scarlet Knights more than doubled their win total from last season, when they finished 7-25. “We have Rutgers going in the right direction.”

The Knights, who beat Illinois in their regular-season finale, earned victories against Big Ten opponents for the first time since joining the conference three years ago.

Rutger’s win on Wednesday did not come without errors, however. Leading scorer Corey Sanders, who was just 2 of 10 from the field, turned the ball over five times and missed three of four free throws. No. 2 scorer Deshawn Freeman fouled out in the second half.

Junior guard led the Scarlet Knights, who outrebounded the Buckeyes 47-31, with 21 points, and Ohio State went 5 of 21 from the field in the second half.

Rutgers took a seven-point lead with less than a minute remaining and didn’t look back from there.

The Buckeyes will now miss the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season.

“Tonight, we weren’t ready to fight,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.

With College Football season just around the corner, fans are scrambling to find the appropriate gear for when their favorite program kicks off. Don’t worry, Amazon did all the work.

With affordable jerseys from SF Sports, you can support any school of your choosing for around $40.

Get the Gear: 5 College Football Jerseys You Must Have Before Kickoff

CLEMSON TIGERS NO.4 (Purple) Jersey: GET IT HERE!

Deshaun Watson took the college football world by storm last season, leading Clemson to the CFP National Championship and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy race.

Now, he is a year healthier and a year wiser.

This beautiful, purple, Tigers jersey will have everyone in Death Valley crooning come game day.

LSU TIGERS NO.7 (White) JERSEY: GET IT HERE!

Leonard Fournette was at the top of everyone’s Heisman watchlist in 2015, but a down year for LSU had him finishing sixth in the final voting tally.

Fournette rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in his sophomore season, foreshadowing a big year in 2016, which he began in the Tigers bowl game, two days before the calendar turned over. The Bayou Bengals running back posted a 212-yard rushing performance in the 2015 Texas Bowl, scoring four touchdowns.

Get your hands on this Fournette jersey before he runs away to the NFL.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS NO.6 (White) JERSEY: GET IT HERE!

Baker Mayfield was a nobody before last season.

A former walk-on at Texas Tech, Mayfield transferred to Oklahoma in 2014, but was forced to sit out a season due to NCAA and Big 12 rules.

He made it worth the wait.

In his first season with the Sooners Mayfield threw for 3,700 yards, finished fourth in the Heisman voting and led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff.

The Sooners are circling the wagons again for 2016, so don’t miss the party.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES NO.16 (Red) JERSEY: GET IT HERE!

J.T. Barrett waited patiently behind Braxton Miller, then waited some more after an ankle injury sidelined him for the 2015 Big Ten and National Championship games.

Now Ohio State is his team and this is the opportunity for all the Buckeyes fans out there to have THE most affordable jersey to represent THE Ohio State University.

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE NO.3 (RED) JERSEY: GET IT HERE!

Calvin Ridley burst onto the scene in his freshman season, earning Freshman All-American honors en route to a National Championship.

Ridley broke Amare Cooper‘s record for freshman receiving yards during a remarkable season for the Crimson Tide where he led the team with 89 receptions for 1,045 yards.

Now that he’s a sophomore, this jersey has some staying power.

So hurry up and lockdown this jersey so you can scream “Roll Tide” with pride.

An anonymous scout called out Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Eli Apple on Tuesday because he apparently has ‘no life skills’ and ‘can’t cook,’ according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn. 

Anonymous Scout Criticizes Ohio State QB Eli Apple For Not Having ‘Cooking or Life Skills’

“I worry about him because of off-the-field issues,” the scout said. “The kid has no life skills. At all. Can’t cook. Just a baby. He’s not first round for me. He scares me to death.”

Apple, 20, played two seasons with the Buckeyes, during which he compiled 86 tackles, 17 passes defended and four interceptions. He was also named the defensive MVP of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl after recording five tackles and one pass break-up in his team’s 44-28 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Prior to this comment, Apple had no issues off the field. The phrase “red flags” used to describe issues that could potentially harm players’ chances at future professional success clearly has taken a whole new meaning, at least for some scouts.

Apple’s mother Annie tweeted the following on Wednesday morning:

For someone with “no life skills,” Apple seemed to handle himself rather well when a Falcons assistant coach asked him a bizarre — and possibly illegal — question regarding his sexuality at the NFL combine back in February.

“I’ve been asked a lot of weird questions,” Apple conceded during an interview last month. “I don’t know if I could say on TV. The Falcons coach, one of the coaches, was like, ‘So do you like men?’ It was like the first thing he asked me. It was weird. I was just like, ‘No.’ He was like, ‘if you’re going to come to Atlanta, sometimes that’s how it is around here, you’re going to have to get used to it.’ I guess he was joking but they just ask most of these questions to see how you’re going to react.”

Apple is considered one of the best cornerbacks in the drat.In the latest round of CBSSports.com mock drafts, he’s slated to go anywhere from 14th (to the Oakland Raiders) to 28th (to the Kansas City Chiefs). The NFL Draft begins on Thursday.

ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Eli Apple #13 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks up a pass intended for Amara Darboh #82 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith criticized the Michigan football program and particularly head coach Jim Harbaugh after the latter decided to conduct a portion of the Wolverines’ spring practice in Florida earlier this month. Bleacher Report’s Ben Axelrod tweeted out Smith’s quote.

Jim Harbaugh Responds To OSU AD Gene Smith With Comment On Tattoo

Refusing, as always, to back down from a fight, Harbaugh quickly fired back at Smith on his own Twitter account, referencing an old scandal involving a tattoo that rocked the Ohio State Buckeyes program of deposed coach Jim Tressel back in 2010. Ohio State’s sanctions from the NCAA in 2011 centered on players having a financial arrangement with a tattoo parlor.

The Buckeyes have two undisputed national championships since the Michigan Wolverines last sat in first place in college football alongside Nebraska in 1997.

In fact, Michigan hasn’t won a game since 2011.

Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott also later responded to Harbaugh via Twitter, reminding him of the Buckeyes’ 42-13 win at Michigan in November.

Smith eventually apologized via Twitter on Wednesday morning, stating, “My comments at a soccer press conference yesterday were not meant to discredit our rival. I apologize to UM student-athletes & my good friend Warde Manuel. We at OSU look forward to continuing the greatest rivalry in collegiate football.”

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer also commented on the issue regarding the Florida trip for spring training.

“It doesn’t mean we won’t do research or keep an eye out, but it’s funny. … Somebody said the other day, ‘I saw you guys were going to Florida.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ Somebody stuck a microphone in my face and I said (we’d look into it). We wouldn’t take their free time away from them. If there’s some way to do something like that and it helps the players, we’ll look into it.”