Earlier today, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel broke the news that the Big Ten was reportedly pivoting like a beaten and battered ballerina and is now considering a plan to start up a football season around Thanksgiving weekend. It cites sources close to the situation but did not name any names.
The Columbus Dispatch (subscription may be required) took it a step further. It reached out to Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith for comment, and it appears that yes, it’s true. Big Ten officials are indeed at least looking at the possibility of having some Turkey surrounded by the return of Big Ten football.
In response to the idea, Smith responded to the Dispatch’s inquiries with the statement “multiple plans are and have been discussed.” In addition, though, it doesn’t mean that’s the leading option right now. Smith later responded that it’s just one scenario being looked at.
“No leader,” Smtih told the Dispatch, “just multiple ideas. Working closely with our television partners.”
The chance for the Big Ten to play football in 2020 isn't dead, after all. OSU AD Gene Smith confirms report that a start sometime this fall is one of the possibilities under consideration. https://t.co/XC1HSxkMSK
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) August 28, 2020
This all comes in the face of football parent upheavals, an online petition from Justin Fields, FOIA letter requests from attorney Tom Mars, a lawsuit from Nebraska players, and more. All the pressure appears to be working to force the Big Ten to reconsider its decision.
Gene Smith has been relatively quiet in the midst of all the turmoil, but he released a statement and seems to be aligned with Ohio State’s testing protocols and readiness to play sooner rather than later.
In a statement released just after Kevin Warren’s open letter to reiterate the Big Ten’s stance on waiting until the spring, Smith said in part … “I want to share our plans for getting our student-athletes back to competition as soon as possible … “While a decision has been made by the presidents of the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall season, we view this as a temporary delay, and Dr. Johnson has directed us to prepare for the possibility of bringing at least some of our fall sports back to practice and competition by the end of the year. We are actively planning for the winter and spring seasons for all sports, including the return of football.”
Now, it looks like an earlier return to football at Ohio State before the end of the year might just be at least remotely possible.