Starting the season on a Thursday on the road
Ohio State's season opener against Illinois is scheduled to be Ohio State's fourth-ever Thursday opener.
OSU previously played Thursday openers in 1997 (Wyoming), 2010 (Marshall) and 2017 (Indiana) and is also scheduled to play a Thursday road opener next season at Minnesota.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 5, 2020
In another blow to tradition that only a pandemic can deliver, Ohio State will be opening its season on a Thursday against Illinois. Instead of starting on Saturday, September 5 as originally scheduled, the Buckeyes will now travel to Champaign to take on an Illini squad that surprised some folks last year.
So much for an ease-into the schedule. Fans won’t be an issue obviously, but hitting the road and following all the travel guidelines and protocols put in place to keep everyone safe in week one will be a test of adaptability and tolerance.
Add that to just the fourth time ever Ohio State will open on a Thursday, and I’m at least a little worried about this game. The Buckeyes have more talent by far than Illinois, but you never know what to expect in game one, especially against a team that’s going to try and make a statement at home out of the gate.