BREAKING: Michigan-Ohio State canceled, will Big Ten rules change?

With “the game” called off, what comes next?

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After a week of speculation, the news that many had feared became official today: The Ohio State-Michigan game will be canceled. The news was originally reported by TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas and confirmed by Michigan this morning.

The decision comes as Michigan has had rising COVID-19 positives throughout the past week, and were coming off of a canceled game against Maryland this past Saturday. As of today, the Wolverines have been cleared for limited, distanced workouts, but have not yet been cleared to practice as a team.

The implications from this cancelation depend on the Big Ten decision makers. Currently, a 5-0 Ohio State team would not be able to play in the Big Ten Championship game. The rule has been that teams need to play six games in order to be eligible. In addition, Big Ten teams have not been allowed to schedule outside the conference under any circumstances.

The Big Ten will have one overarching priority in all of this: making sure Ohio State has every chance available to get into the College Football Playoff. With unprecedented rules in an unprecedented year, nothing would be surprising. The Big Ten has nothing holding them back from changing the qualifications for the championship game, or in allowing Ohio State to schedule an opponent for this weekend. Now, we wait and see.