According to a release from the Ohio State athletic department, the game between Ohio State and Illinois has been canceled.
It was going to be a Cloak and Dagger proposition as it stood with the team not flying out until Saturday morning, going promptly to the game and trying to pull it all off without their head coach because he was one that tested positive already. Still, as of Friday afternoon, optimism was still high that Ohio State would be able to play the game and soldier on.
From the university:
The football game between No. 3 Ohio State University and the University of Illinois, scheduled for this Saturday at 12 noon (EST) in Champaign, Ill., has been cancelled by Ohio State University after further positive tests for the coronavirus were discovered after a round of PCR testing this afternoon.
The Department of Athletics has paused all team-related football activities. The decision to cancel and pause was made jointly by Director of Athletics Gene Smith, University President Kristina M. Johnson, head team physician Dr. Jim Borchers and in consultation with the Big Ten Conference.
“We have continued to experience an increase in positive tests over the course of this week,” Smith said. “The health, safety and well-being of our student-athlete is our main concern, and our decisions on their welfare will continue to be guided by our medical staff.”
The program will resume its team activities when its medical staff determines it is safe to do so based on protocols established by the Big Ten Conference.
Ohio State pauses team-related activities; game was set for noon Saturday at Champaign, Ill.https://t.co/bFI7tPNQfZ
— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) November 28, 2020
It remains to be seen if Ohio State will be able to play next Saturday’s game against Michigan State on the road. With what has been confirmed as a growing number of positive tests, it seems like a difficult proposition to clear protocols in just seven days.
If the Buckeyes miss one more game, it would take them out of eligibility to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. Current conference policy is to play a minimum of six games to be eligible, but you have to think that may be re-visited with OSU’s spot in the game in jeopardy.
We shall see.
For now, the focus is on getting the surge in cases under control. As we know more, we’ll pass it along.
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