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The state of Ohio boasts some of the best lacrosse in the entire country, both at the collegiate level and professional level. With the Ohio Machine taking home the MLL title in August and the Ohio State Buckeyes advancing to the national title game in May, there is a buzz around the lacrosse community in the Buckeye State.

That buzz will only increase when Ohio’s two flagship lacrosse programs meet on Sunday at Fortress Obetz in the Ohio Lacrosse Fall Classic. The meeting between the college and professional teams is the highlight of a day that also includes a youth clinic.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with a championship-winning organization like the Machine to put on an event that will help grow the game in central Ohio," Ohio State coach Nick Myers said in a press release. "Between the success that both the Buckeyes and Machine have enjoyed this year, lacrosse in Ohio has never been stronger. For us, the fall is all about getting better, and having the chance to compete against the MLL champions and use MLL rules will help to accomplish that.”

The Machine’s 2018 season is a long way away, but Ohio State’s fall slate is just getting started. The Buckeyes will face pro alumni on Friday night and follow it with the matchup against the Machine just two days later. It’s tough to find competition at that level for a fall scrimmage.

Myers and his team will be looking to maintain the consistency it showed in the 2017 season, but they will do so without a few key contributors. Faceoff man Jake Withers and attackman Eric Fannell are both graduated, leaving holes to fill come this spring.

Still, the Buckeyes return what could be the best defensive unit in the country that includes Ben Randall and captain Erik Evans. They’ll be put to the test against some of the MLL’s brightest stars, including recent Buckeyes like Johnny Pearson, JT Blubaugh and Tyler Pfister.

Ohio State will also have to deal with a few new rules, namely the 60-second clock that accompanies the MLL. Many college teams across the country are experimenting with the shot clock this fall. Not to mention, the college players will get to experience the two-point arc for a game.

Machine stars Tom Schreiber, Marcus Holman and Jake Bernhardt won't be playing against the Buckeyes, as they'll be suiting up for Team USA this weekend. More on those games below.

Elsewhere on this second fall ball weekend:

  • Two of college lacrosse’s best teams will be converging on US Lacrosse Headquarters for the Team USA Fall Classic. The men’s U.S. national team will battle the defending champion Terps on Saturday night at 6 p.m. and the Tigers on Sunday at 2 p.m. Also included in the Team USA Fall Classic is Team Israel, which will face Towson on Sunday afternoon. There will also be a 9/11 Memorial game on Sunday morning.

  • Penn State, which reached with NCAA tournament first round last season, will host a pair of college lacrosse powers on Saturday. First up is Syracuse at 12:20 p.m., followed by a matchup with Cornell at 3 p.m.

  • The Canadian national team will also be in action over the weekend, battling Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, N.Y.

SATURDAY, OCT. 7

Team USA Fall Classic (at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md.)

U.S. Training Team vs. Maryland, 6 p.m.

Penn State Alumni Weekend

Syracuse at Penn State, 12:20 p.m.

Cornell at Penn State, 3 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 8

Team USA Fall Classic (at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md.)

9/11 Memorial Game – Pentagon vs. Twin Towers, 11:15 a.m..

U.S. Training Team vs. Towson, 2 p.m.

Israel vs. Towson University (abbreviated scrimmage), 4 p.m.

Wingate Event

Wingate vs. Newberry, 10 a.m.

Newberry vs. Mount Olive, 12:15 p.m.

Wingate vs. Mount Olive, 2:30 p.m.

Other Games

St. John’s at Mount St. Mary’s

Colgate at Yale

Notre Dame vs. Team Canada, 2 p.m. (in Buffalo, N.Y.)