In case you missed it, earlier today, some rather significant news broke that the Ohio State football program was still researching scenarios in which it could play in the fall rather than wait until the spring. It was a bit of a revelation on a media availability call with head coach Ryan Day on Wednesday.
That got everyone a little excited, but now, through a further statement from athletic director Gene Smith, the program appears to now be focused on preparing for the spring and what the Big Ten has laid out.
“Ohio State has continued its communications with the Big Ten Conference office regarding a scenario to still play fall football games, but has now determined that this would not be an allowable opportunity for us to move toward,” said Smith in the statement. “We are 100 percent focused on supporting the health and safety and academic success of our student-athletes, and on working with the Big Ten to develop a spring plan for our sports as expeditiously as possible.”
We are 100% focused on supporting the health and safety and academic success of our student-athletes, and on working with the Big Ten to develop a spring plan for our sports as expeditiously as possible.
— gene smith (@OSU_AD) August 12, 2020
Okay. So if you’re keeping track, the Big Ten was going to cancel the 2020 fall season before it wasn’t, then it was, and did. Ohio State hearing the news began a fight to try and find a way to play in the fall, then fell in line with the Big Ten’s plans, then didn’t, until toeing the line now.
Got it?
As much as everyone would love to see some Ohio State football in the fall, it’s probably in all stakeholder’s interests to move on and plan for a spring season so that runway can be cleared towards a resolution.
And there you have it. For now. Until you don’t.