SPRING BACK-TO-SCHOOL EDITION +
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Deep ties run through OSU-UT Cotton Bowl
By Sam Becker Lantern Reporter
Although it’s not the usual Buckeye rivalry, the Ohio State-Texas Cotton Bowl is four years in the making.
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tor Steve Sarkisian accepted the Texas head coach position Jan. 2, 2021, but remained with the Crimson Tide for nine more days to coordinate the Buckeyes in the National Championship Jan 11.
Following this curtain call, Sarki-
turning around a Texas program that had fallen from grace. Though the Sarkisian’s arrival undoubtedly gave the program some juice. This reinvigoration was especially im portant for recruit ing, which is heav momentum within programs.
Prior to Sarkisian, the Texas
program had been in a state of tedium. The innate prospect of going to Texas was no longer convincing enough, even for kids who grew up wearing Longhorn hats. One such kid was Quinn Ewers.
Ewers was a once-in-a-generation recruit. The early 2000s had Vince Young. The 2010s had Trevor Lawrence. Ewers was seen as the quarterback prospect of the 2020s. Though he initially committed to
State a few months later. Texas missed on him, in its own backyard, because of how the program was publicly perceived. This changed when Sarkisian arrived.
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son at Ohio State, he could read the tea leaves. Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day did not care about recruiting rankings, Ewers’ multimillion-dollar NIL deals or his internet fame. At Ohio State, Ewers was nothing more than the most famous fourth-string quarterback in the country.
Day, who is largely a quarterbacks coach with NFL experience, did not seem swayed by the fact that Ewers was so highly touted. And if Ewers was not going to be contributing anytime soon, all the things attached to his fame arguably did more harm than good. Day seemed satis-
recruit who had been patiently waiting in the wings before Ewers even arrived. Day certainly did not show a player of Ewers’ talent the door, but he did not
Columbus, Ewers decided to return home and become a Longhorn Dec. 12, 2021.
“He was in a very unique situation, for sure,” Day said in a Dec. 5, 2021, press conference. “We certainly wish him nothing but the best of luck.”
When Ewers transferred, the future of both programs shifted. For Ohio State, the long-term outlook at quarterback became uncertain, as Ewers had often been viewed as Stroud’s successor. For Texas, it was a game-chang ing win, bringing the hometown star back to lead the program into a new era.
Ewers turned the 5-7 Longhorns into perennial play
The Longhorns were a play away from a National Championship appearance last year, and only the Buckeyes stand in their way this season.
So, Ew-
ers pioneered a turnaround for Texas, but what about Ohio State? In the era of these superstar quarterbacks, the Buckeyes have seemingly found their succession plan in a three-star recruit, redshirt senior from Downingtown, Pennsylvania.
Though Texas found its program savior, Ohio State opted for a glue guy. And Will Howard is a great one.
Stroud struck out. McCord, though talented, was too inexperienced as a starter to elevate the Buckeyes. With much of the roster’s foundation returning for another year, Day recognized that a superstar quarterback wasn’t needed and took a chance on Howard.
Though the journey has not been SEMIFINAL
TIES continues on Page 7
TOM FOX VIA TNS
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian whistles for his players to rotate during pregame warmups before
CARLY DAMON | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day calls for the
CAMPUS
Buckeyes’ bright futures
ways to work with or against AI in the classroom
20th annual Spring Career Fair to be held Jan. 21
By Nora Igelnik Campus Editor
Career-ready Buckeyes can soonness wear with crisply printed resumes in hand for the 20th annual Spring Career Fair.
Open to current students and recent graduates alike, the fair will take place Jan. 21 from 1-5 p.m. in the Union’s
Performance Hall. The College of Arts and Sciences is managing the event, but a wide range of disciplines will be represented, from business analysis to laboratory research to graphic design to diplomacy.
Aaron Klein, assistant director of industry connections in Arts and Sciences Career Success, said he expects around 200 employers to be present at the event. This number has grown at which around 100 employers were present, said Scott Kustis, director of industry connections for Arts and Sciences Career Success.
The Spring Career Fair was established 20 years ago to bridge the gap employers saw in the typical college recruitment methods, as smaller networking events were not bringing in a wide enough range of talent and skills, Kustis said.
“Especially if it’s a major corporation or a large federal agency, they’re not only recruiting for one small discipline,” Kustis said. “They really are recruiting for needs across an organization that might include everything from communications to data to human resources to marketing, and they want to be able to capture all the students in one place at one time, and that just didn’t exist for whatever reason at that time.”
After a dip in employer interest due to the Great Recession in 2008, registration began to pick up around 2012, when around 150 employers attended the event, Kustis said. This number has only grown over the past 13 years.
The value of career fairs has solid-
COVID-19 pandemic, Kustis said. Though many employers thought virtual fairs could be the way of the present and future, students pushed back.
“What we have found is that the students really love having an in-person opportunity,” Kustis said. “So, obviously, people can apply to things online. A lot of employers in later years have tried to do things virtually, but I think it was really that synergy of that missing piece of being able to have that face-to-face moment when you get to introduce yourself; it’s part of the beginning of a networking process between you, and the recruiters and that particular company’s recruiting strategy.”
Klein said the process of applying to jobs online can feel “emotionless” for students and recruiters.
“You’re not able to gauge interactions or gauge feedback,” Klein said. “You can’t really showcase who you are as a student and all of your accolades outside of your resume, right? And that’s what we tell students: ‘Yes, it’s a resume, but it’s also having those networking skills, and it’s also knowing how to talk to recruiters.’”
The upcoming fair is a valuable chance for students from all areas of
in an employer, Kustis said.
“There’s a wealth of opportunities for all students, regardless of what college, or major or background that they might be coming from,” Kustis said.
Career Fair.
“And so, you know, certain students from certain majors or certain areas what they’re looking for, but it’s going to be representative of just a larger variety of opportunities across the board.”
Notably, Klein said around 1,200 students are expected to attend the fair throughout the day.
“I think one of the nice things about
couple weeks of the spring semester,” Klein said. “So for students, it’s already top of mind, and they can start the semester strong by going to thistunities.”
Employers register to attend the fair through Handshake — Ohio State’s job and internship position-posting system — which allows students to research the companies or organiza-
tions they are interested in prior to attending the fair, Kustis said.
“It might be to a student’s advantage to look over the roster of organizations that are registered ahead of time and start to come up with a plan and a strategy of who they’re going to target and learn a little bit more about,” Kustis said. “Maybe [there are] some organizations that are unfamiliar to them, and they can do a little bit of preparatory research in terms of who they might want to visit at the fair.”
Besides conducting background research, students can go one step further in their preparation by printing multiple copies of their resumes and dressing in business-professional attire, said Scott Keyes, events senior coordinator for Arts and Sciences Career Success.
CAREER continues on Page 3
COURTESY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES CAREER SUCCESS
Ohio State students meet with potential employers during the 2024 Spring
CAREER continued from Page 2
“What I try to tell students — just over the course of years when I work with young people — [is to] come as if you wanted somebody to hire you right on the spot,” Keyes said.
Arts and Sciences Career Success also operates a Career Studio in room
100 of Denney Hall, which functions as a drop-in space for students seeking career advice, resume and cover letter editing or general help with job or internship searching, according to the studio’s webpage.
Jake Sigafoos, marketing manager for Arts and Sciences Career Success, said the studio can help students feel
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al materials and networking skills prior to the fair.
“Our peer career coaches can walk you through anything, from resume cleanup,” Sigafoos said. “They can help you with some practice questions; they can at least get you feeling a little bit
Navigating the AI era
more comfortable with your situation before you actually go into the event.”
Students can indicate interest in attending the Spring Career Fair on the Handshake website, though preregistration is not required.
For current students, a valid BuckID is required to enter the fair, according to the Handshake website.
How Ohio State professors uphold academic integrity in the classroom
By Jolie Austin Lantern Reporter
As Bailey Kreft, a fourth-year in communication, walked into her Strategic Message Design class last spring, she expected to discuss the syllabus, future assignments and course policies.
she learned pertained to the dangersligence research organization that operates ChatGPT and other AI products — for academic purposes.
“I’ve always heard of other people being caught using [OpenAI],” Kreft said. “Even though I don’t, I was kind of worried that something could be
As AI continues to evolve, Ohio State professors must navigate the challenges and opportunities this technology presents, striving for excellence in the classroom while also attempting to prevent academic misconduct. To do so, faculty members are implementing innovative strategies to maintain integrity and adapt to a rapidly evolving educational landscape.
Calvin Olsen, a senior lecturer in the Department of English, said he previously detected OpenAI usage in students’ writing based on their unnatural vocabulary and syntax. Rather than employing the tools for strict research or editing purposes, Olsen said he saw that more often, students took advantage of OpenAI to replace the creative process, which defeats the course’s purpose.
Though he highlights academic in-
day of class, Olsen said he also tries to build trust with his students across the certain assignments to discourage AI use.
“I want to trust my students, and on the whole, I can trust my students,” Olsen said.
For Olsen, the root of AI misuse often lies in students feeling stressed or overwhelmed by their schedules. To deter misuse, Olsen said he supports an environment in which students can reasonably manage their workloads without cutting corners.
“If they need a week to turn in a big assignment, I’m going to almost always give them that,” Olsen said. “It lessens the chance that they will do something that will hurt their grade or the way they learn.”
Elizabeth Hewitt, a professor in and chair of the Department of English, said she values teaching students how to harness AI responsibly. More spethat require ChatGPT as a preparatory tool, emphasizing that understandingportant as knowing its limitations.
“It can’t do the thinking for you in the same way you have to translate long word problems into a calculator,” Hewitt said. “We are too quick to accuse students of using ChatGPT, but often, it’s just their own inadequacies as writers coming through.”
Olsen said he thinks it would be ben-
Digital Innovation dedicated to training both students and faculty on proper AI usage.
“If we educate people about AI technologically — what it is, how it works — and acknowledge that you’re going to use this at some point, and at some [point], there are places where we’re gonna have to require you not to, students will make that balance.” Olsen said.
On the other hand, Hewitt said she sees value in personalized support and one-on-one writing assis-
student-to-teacher ratios for deeper learning.
Hewitt also said she advocates for a balanced approach to AI, urging professors to avoid dismissing the tech-
nology outright and instead base their classroom policies on informed knowledge.
Kreft, who said she is personally wary of AI, said it can be “easy to fall into the trap of using AI as a shortcut.”
“That doesn’t help us learn, or actually grow as students or even in our future careers we are working so hard toward,” Kreft said.
into a new semester, professors at Ohio State continue to learn more about OpenAI and whether its usage couldrooms.
“AI is not pumpkin spice — we don’t need it in everything,” Olsen said. “But when it’s in season, it’s a great thing to have.”
CARLY DAMON | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
As the semester begins, faculty are navigating the place of AI tools, like ChatGPT, in the classroom.
ARTS&LIFE
By Samantha Harden Arts & Life Editor
For students excited to return to their on-campus social lives, Ohio -
ing events throughout January. Click on the title of any event for more information.
(50 W. Town St.)
This January, the Urban Arts Space
Find the complete list of January campus events on our website,
January events to check out on campus
— an Ohio State gallery, arts laboratory and community space — will host the Exhibition.” According to the university’s website, this exhibition will showcase diverse artwork from more than 40 Ohio State professors.
In addition, “Creative Lives” will highlight “how the study of the arts can be a powerful catalyst for lifelong expression,” the website states.
The exhibition will be on view from Jan. 14-25, with the Urban Arts Space from 4-6 p.m.
The Urban Arts Space is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(390 Woody Hayes Drive)
The Ohio Union Activities Board will host the “OUABack to School Late
the Ohio State Ice Rink. According to the event listing, this with one ticket available per Ohio State student with a valid BuckID. Tickets must be purchased on OUAB’s website, before the event. -
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Frank
W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, will host the 53rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23.
Over the span of 50-plus years, the event has featured prominent guest speakers like Angela Davis, Ben Crump, Nikki Giovanni and Michael Eric Dyson, according to the university’s website. This year, the featured speaker is hip-hop artist Chuck D, a member of the Rock
Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
At the time of publication, the location for this event has yet to be announced. More information can be found via the event listing on Ohio State’s website.
Undergraduate application deadline January 31
Health
Health
Medical
Radiation
Radiography
Respiratory Therapy
Sonography hrs.osu.edu
Ohio State Band of Brothers active for rst time since 2020
Lantern Reporter
Band of Brothers is back at Ohio State, in which young men aren’t building one.
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cial student organization by six students — including BOB president Don Hannon, a third-year in actuarial sciences, and vice president Matthew Gebreyhones, a second-year in computer science — after being labeled inactive in 2020.
According to Ohio State’s Student Activities webpage, the organization seeks to promote “scholarship, service, professional development and brotherhood” among Black male students at Ohio State to build a supportive and growth-driven community.
“Band of Brothers is an organization where young men get to come together and grow socially, professionally and spiritually,” Hannon said. “On a campus as big as this one, it gives people a chance to just come together, meet more people, meet each other and get
campus not so lonely.”
Hannon said he was pulled to re-establish the club because he saw a need
to address the needs of young Black men on campus.
“We want to emphasize that space
there are not that many organizations that are tailored for young men on campus,” Hannon said. “Our sisters on campus have really been hustling, so you have organizations like the Sister Accord that are born from that. You don’t really have something that’s generally tailored towards young Black men.”
Hannon said one of the club’s core missions is to create a space where Black men can openly address the challenges they face, recognizing many of these struggles often go unspoken.
“I see a lot of Black men kind of cut themselves short constantly,” Hannon said. “As Black men, there are a lot of unseen struggles that we keep to our-
selves a lot and we’ve got to realize that that is not working for us anymore. You have to empower students to create spaces to share our struggles together and rely on one another, instead of just keeping it to ourselves. We’re just doing more harm to ourselves that way.”
Shane Wagner, a second-year in sports industry and club member, said the exchange of life experiences within BOB has created mutual growth, as members learn from one another, regardless of age or background.
“We all come together, and we come with an open mind and perspective,”
Wagner said. “We actually grow from one another because there may be some experiences that someone has that I haven’t had yet, or I am about to have. Whether it is coming from someone a year younger than me or two years older than me, this growth goes both ways.”
Wagner said though its academic pursuits are important, the club focuses on personal development and well-being by engaging in vulnerable discussions.
“Yes, we are students here, but we said. “One week, we learned about entrepreneurship. Another time was more focused on mental health. Another time we just focused on letting everyone share about their experiences to teach people through one another
depression, who have dealt with suicidal thoughts. I know I’m not alone, but when else are you given the spaces where you can discover that kind of thing?”
Hannon said BOB is rooted in the belief that success is achieved through
“We all grew up with the idea that it takes a village,” Hannon said. “It takes a village to develop somebody or takes a village to accomplish the hard things in life. We want this organization to be that village to show that we can do hard things.”
Hannon said the BOB initiative was built with a vision that extended beyond just one group, aiming to create a more inclusive community.
Hannon said for many of the club’s members, being a student at Ohio Stateresent both themselves and their families.
“It’s a lot that goes to our name, and it comes with a lot of responsibility that none of us take that lightly,” Hannon said. “This is The Ohio State University. Nothing about being here and doing this is easy, and I think there is a sense of comfort in not shying away from that fact alongside other like-minded, gifted individuals.”
Gebreyhones said although the pressure of college responsibilities canportive environment that helps mem-dence.
“If you let it, the responsibility of being a college student can kind of feel like a burden on your back,” Gebreyhones said. “I think that’s the beauty of Band of Brothers because we see that, we feel that and we recognize that, but we won’t let ourselves or our members be unprepared for that.”
Hannon said some of those emotional challenges are deep-seated among many Black men, making access to support for college students crucial.
“Suicide rates among Black men are among some of the highest in the country,” Hannon said. “I’ve had family members who have dealt with
“We are trying to build a sense of community here that goes beyond just Black men or men in general,” Hannon said. “Yes, this alliance was established on the importance of building up young men, but it doesn’t stop there. If we do this right, everyone can stand
That inclusivity is something Hannon said extends to the wide range of topics covered in the club’s meetings.
“We held a ‘Shark Tank’ event that really exposed our members to the entrepreneurial world and the challenges that may come with it,” Hannon said. “That’s not something that’s any come, even if they never wanted to be an entrepreneur, can get access to the insights of being one. There is power in that access to choice.”
Wagner said in his time with BOB, he learned that brotherhood is not concourage and initiative.
“I have really learned that brotherhood can exist anywhere,” Wagner said. “We just all have to be brave enough to look for it, and if it’s not there, you’ve gotta be brave enough to
Hannon and Gebreyhones said BOB meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Hale Hall during the spring semester.
For more information about BOB and its upcoming events, visit the club’s Instagram account.
COURTESY OF MATTHEW GEBREYHONES
Members of Band of Brothers attend the club’s “Shark Tank” event at Scott
SPORTS
ree reasons why Texas will beat Ohio State
By Sam Cipriani Asst. Sports Editor
DALLAS
— Despite the fact most major sportsbooks have designated the Longhorns as touchdown underdogs against the Buckeyes, Texas’ roster is nevertheless built to take down Ohio State.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team is tough, plays elite defense and features a strong run game — all factors that have led to Buckeye losses in recent memory.
These are the three biggest essentials to a Texas victory in Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic.
Defensive ends wreaking havoc
During Ohio State’s 13-10 loss to Michigan Nov. 30, 2024, the Wolverines proved that a dominant defensive line can be the key to shutting down quarterback Will Howard and the
For the Longhorns, edge rushers Colin Simmons and Trey Moore have certainly displayed a high level of in-
Simmons, who edged out Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, leads Texas in sacks with nine total, and Moore follows close behind with six and a half.
Sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is also a crucial weapon for Texas, playing a role similar to that of Buckeye Cody Simon. The Denton, Texas, native continuously rovers the the pass and run games.
Hill has recorded seven and a half sacks for the Longhorns, simultaneously leading Texas with a whopping 107 total tackles and four forced fumbles.
During his Jan. 3 press conference, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he’s well aware of Texas’ formidable edge rushers, noting that he’s prepar-horns’ speedy pass rush.
“They have tremendous pass rushers, and they do a great job rushing the passer on the edge,” Day said.
Texas possesses arguably the best pair of shutdown cornerbacks the Buckeyes will encounter all year.
Senior defensive backs Andrew Mukuba and Jahdae Barron have each horn defense.
Barron was yet another Long horn to oust a Buckeye for a ma jor award, narrowly beating out safety Caleb Downs for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is annu ally awarded to the best defen sive back in college football.
No team is going to com pletely stop Ohio State from scoring with its trio of ul tra-talented wide receiv ers, as the passing and rushing attack of the with playmakers at every position.
Sarkisian said his secondary must make throw the football, using
both physicality and its scheme to do so.
“We need to disrupt timing in the back end,” Sarkisian said in his Jan. 3 press conference. “We need to disguise our coverage as well. We need to be sticky in coverage, we need to get hands on footballs, we need to make
If Texas’ secondary can merely lock down one or two of Ohio State’s top wideouts, they are sure to cause many headaches for Buckeye fans everywhere.
Sarkisian and managing the run game
Though Ewers and Texas’ passing attack has struggled at times, the Longhorns’ rushing game has remained a unit of consistency.
monster — which includes running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue — has racked up 1,732 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, all while through the air.
“We’re at our best when we can run it, and that gives us balance,” Sarkisian said. “I’m hard-pressed not to just walk away from it and abandon it. So,
putting together a good plan.”
Ohio State saw its only two losses of the season against Oregon’s and Michigan’s rushing attacks — both of which rushed for over 150-plus yards on the ground — and Texas surely has
continue this trend.
If history repeats itself, a runheavy scheme from Sarkisian could be the dose of ground-and-pound offense that’s necessary to take down Ohio State. But Texas could be in trouble if it becomes one-dimensional and overly relies on either the run or pass game.
Ohio State: 11th (36.4 points/game) Texas: 21st (34.3 points/game)
Ohio State: 1st (12.07 points allowed/game)
Texas: 4th (14.47 points allowed /game)
Ohio State’s three keys to victory against Texas
By Noah Weiskopf Sports Editor
DALLAS — Right now, Ohio State is the hottest college football team in the country.
The Buckeyes have advanced to the -
matchup Dec. 21, 2024, before beating a previously undefeated Oregon squad 41-21 in Pasadena, California, at the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl.
Ohio State will now face Texas in
Simply put, the Buckeyes are favored to beat Texas. The betting spread, according to most major sportsbooks, leans in favor of Ohio State by roughly six points.
If the Buckeyes want to advance to the National Championship game in Atlanta, they must focus on these three areas Friday night in Dallas.
Don’t let Texas run the ball
The Longhorns’ inability to consistently run the ball has been evident all season, but especially in their last few games.
well for the Buckeyes, who not only have a top-tier defense, but also one of the country’s best rushing defenses.
It’s not that the Longhorns can’t run the ball; when they’re rushing the ball -
ing the Tigers 292-76.
But in the SEC Championship against Georgia, the Longhorns only
Inconsistent is the best word to describe Texas’ rushing attack, which is led by Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue.
ly tougher.
This season, Howard has thrown nine interceptions, but he has yet to
On the other side of the ball, if Ohio State’s defense can force a turnover or two, the Buckeyes will be in a prime spot to advance to the National Championship.
threat compared to the Buckeyes’ previous two matchups, as Texas’ defense will be the best unit Ohio State has seen all season. It includes a highly disruptive defensive line, not to mention Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron in its secondary.
in wide receivers Matthew Holden and Isaiah Bond, as well as tight end Gunnar Helm and former Buckeye quarterback Quinn Ewers leading the charge.
The Longhorns have the correct pieces to beat any team in the country, but they haven’t put them all together quite yet.
Texas lost just twice this season, both times at the hands of Georgia. The Bulldogs initially subdued the Longhorns in an Oct. 19, 2024, game 30-15. Then, Georgia secured a 22-19 win over Texas Dec. 7, 2024, to claim the SEC Championship.
In terms of wins, Texas has tallied one ranked victory this season, which came on the road against then-No. 20
CARLY DAMON | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR Senior defensive tackle Tyleik
Most recently — in its overtime win against Arizona State Jan. 1 — Texas ran for an abysmal 53 yards on 30 carcarry.
This bodes
For Ohio State, containing and limiting the Longhorns’ rushing ability early on will be an important building block of victory.
Play turnover-free football
In most matchups, the team that wins the turnover battle usually wins the game. Therefore, it’s critical for Ohio State to play mistake-free football Friday.
The Buckeyes’ losses this season — to Oregon Oct. 12, 2024, and Michigan Nov. 30, 2024 — both involved Ohio State turning the ball over to its opponent at least once.
It’s still possible to win while conceding a costly turnover — the Buckeyes managed to defeat Penn State 20-13 Nov. 2, 2024, after quarterback Will Howard threw a pick-6fensive drive.
But it does make winning the -
Ohio State outscored Tennesseetinue this trend by forcing Texas to be a one-dimensional team.
When the Buckeyes know their opposition is forced to have a pass-heavy play style because of their lead, it’s passer. Against Oregon Jan. 1, while the Ducks were being forced into the pass to catch up, Ohio State’s defense notched eight sacks and 13 tackles for a loss.
Though it doesn’t necessarily have
State has a multi-possession lead, Texas has very little chance to come back and win the game.
Ultimately, the fate of the game lies just have to sustain their momentumball.
TIES continued from Page 1
entirely smooth, the Buckeyes are still standing. On Jan. 10, they will face Sarkisian, Ewers and the Longhorns, with a trip to the National Championship on the line.
College football is largely about projection. A head coach’s job depends on will be in a number of years. The best coaches are the strongest visionaries. And Jan. 10, one coach’s vision will be realized.
