When the winter chill sets in across the country - and especially in Columbus - it’s natural to start looking for something to heat things up. Fortunately for Ohio State fans, there’s no shortage of Buckeyes making serious noise right now across multiple sports. From the hardwood to the ice, and all the way to the NFL’s biggest stage, current and former Buckeyes are turning up the temperature at just the right time.
Let’s take a closer look at five Ohio State standouts who are catching fire.
John Mobley Jr. is Lighting It Up
If you’ve been watching Ohio State men’s basketball lately, you’ve seen the emergence of John Mobley Jr. - and it’s been electric. The sophomore guard is in the middle of a red-hot stretch, dropping at least 20 points in four straight games, including a 25-point outing in Monday’s win over Penn State. That run started with a career-high 28-point performance against UCLA, and he hasn’t cooled off since.
Mobley’s doing most of his damage from deep - he’s knocked down 20 threes during this four-game tear. That kind of perimeter shooting has been a game-changer for the Buckeyes, who now sit at 14-6 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play. For a program that’s missed the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, Mobley’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time.
He’s currently averaging 16.1 points per game, second on the team, and he’s one of four Buckeyes putting up double figures. His 3.1 made threes per game ranks third in the conference, trailing only Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort and Indiana’s Lamar Wilkerson. If Ohio State wants to dance in March, Mobley’s going to be a big reason why.
Jaloni Cambridge is Taking Over
On the women’s side, Jaloni Cambridge is proving she’s not just ready for the spotlight - she’s owning it. The sophomore guard has landed on the Big Ten’s Weekly Honor Roll for the fourth time this season, and it’s easy to see why.
She opened last week with 18 points and eight assists in a thrilling 71-69 win over ninth-ranked TCU, then followed it up with 22 points against Indiana. But her best performance came Sunday at Iowa, where she notched her first career double-double with 26 points and 10 boards.
Cambridge is now averaging 21.9 points per game, which puts her third in the Big Ten. After the Buckeyes lost star Cotie McMahon to the transfer portal in the offseason, Cambridge has stepped up as the team’s go-to scorer and leader.
Ohio State is 18-3 heading into Thursday’s matchup with Wisconsin, with all three losses coming against top-10 opponents. Ranked 11th in the latest AP poll, the Buckeyes are positioning themselves as a serious contender - and Cambridge is leading the charge.
Jocelyn Amos Heating Up on the Ice
Don’t sleep on Ohio State women’s hockey - especially not with Jocelyn Amos finding her rhythm. The Buckeyes swept St. Thomas over the weekend to improve to 23-3 on the season, and Amos played a starring role.
On Friday, with Ohio State trailing 1-0 in the third, Amos tied the game before scoring the game-winner just 38 seconds into overtime. She added another goal in Saturday’s 5-0 win, capping off a dominant weekend.
Amos has now scored five goals in her last four games. While her season total sits at 12 - well below the 42 she tallied last year - the Ontario native is heating up at exactly the right time. And with three key teammates - Joy Dunne, Hilda Svensson, and Sanni Vanhanen - heading to Italy for the Olympics, the Buckeyes will be counting on Amos to carry even more of the offensive load as the postseason approaches.
Brice Sensabaugh Finding His Groove in Utah
It’s been a tough season for the Utah Jazz, but Brice Sensabaugh is giving fans a reason to watch. The former Buckeye and 2023 first-round pick has been on a tear in January, scoring at least 20 points in six of the team’s 12 games this month - including four of the last five.
His breakout performance came on January 14th in Chicago, where he exploded for 43 points - a career best. Through 43 games, Sensabaugh is averaging 11.7 points per game, the highest mark of his three-year NBA career, and he’s doing it in just 21 minutes per night.
Despite Utah’s five-game losing streak, Sensabaugh’s development is a bright spot. With the Jazz out of playoff contention, it’ll be worth watching whether the young forward gets more minutes down the stretch - and if he does, don’t be surprised if those numbers keep climbing.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: On the Biggest Stage
And then there’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s not just playing well - he’s playing like one of the best wide receivers in football. On Sunday, the former Ohio State standout helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, punching their ticket to Super Bowl XL.
Smith-Njigba was unstoppable, hauling in 10 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. That performance capped off a monster season in which he’s totaled 132 receptions for 1,965 yards and 12 touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs.
He’s now a finalist for the AP Offensive Player of the Year award, which will be handed out next Thursday at the NFL Honors. And if Seattle can knock off New England on February 8th to claim their second Super Bowl title, Smith-Njigba will be a prime candidate for Super Bowl MVP.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s Mobley lighting it up from deep, Cambridge taking over in crunch time, Amos finding her scoring touch, Sensabaugh carving out a role in the NBA, or Smith-Njigba on the verge of football’s biggest prize - Ohio State athletes are making serious noise right now.
No matter the sport, the Buckeyes are bringing the heat. And with plenty of season left across the board, this could just be the start.