Why was Ohio State-Illinois canceled? COVID-19 impacts Buckeyes

No. Four Ohio State canceled Saturday’s game with Illinois after extra optimistic exams for COVID-19 inside the program had been found Friday afternoon.  

The college’s athletic division has paused all football-related actions. 

MORE: How long is Ryan Day out after positive COVID-19 test result?

This resolution will put the Massive Ten and the School Soccer Playoff in limbo over the subsequent few weeks. The Buckeyes are Four-Zero and had been fourth in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings.  

Underneath the present guidelines, Ohio State should play six video games to be eligible for the Massive Ten championship sport. Here’s a nearer take a look at the Buckeyes’ outlook for the rest of the 2020 season.  

Why was the Ohio State-Illinois sport canceled?  

Ohio State didn’t disclose the variety of optimistic COVID-19 exams on the staff, however as of Friday afternoon the staff was planning to journey to Illinois on Saturday morning for a midday ET (11 a.m. CT) kickoff.  

That was the plan, even after it was revealed Ohio State coach Ryan Day examined optimistic for COVID-19 and wouldn’t make the journey. Defensive position coach Larry Johnson was set to teach the staff.  

Ohio State introduced late Friday night that the sport was canceled after an elevated variety of optimistic exams.  

“We have now continued to expertise a rise in optimistic exams over the course of this week,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith stated in an announcement launched by the college. “The well being, security and well-being of our student-athlete is our important concern, and our choices on their welfare will proceed to be guided by our medical employees.”  

Can Ohio State nonetheless make Massive Ten title sport?  

Sure, however there isn’t any margin for error now. The Buckeyes have had two video games canceled this season. The Nov. 14 sport at Maryland was canceled as a result of the Terrapins had been pressured to go on pause due to COVID-19.  

The Massive Ten determined to return to play on Oct. 24 after suspending the season, which meant the schedule left no room for bye weeks. Ohio State has an undetermined variety of gamers who can not return to motion till 21 days after their optimistic take a look at, per Massive Ten COVID-19 pointers. 

Wisconsin has missed three video games this season and will not be eligible for the Big Ten championship game. Which may not have an effect on the Massive Ten West Division race as a result of the Badgers misplaced 17-7 to Northwestern on Oct. 21. The Wildcats are 5-Zero heading into Saturday’s sport in opposition to Maryland.  

Ohio State is the lone undefeated staff left within the Massive Ten East. The Buckeyes beat Indiana (Four-1) — the second-place staff — in a 42-35 shootout at Ohio Stadium final week.  

Ohio State has two video games left on its regular-season schedule. The Buckeyes are slated to play at Michigan State on Dec. 5 and shut the season at house in opposition to rival Michigan on Dec. 12. The Spartans have had one sport canceled due to COVID-19. The Wolverines have performed all 5 of their video games.  

Per the college, the Buckeyes “will resume its staff actions when its medical employees determines it’s secure to take action based mostly on protocols established by the Massive Ten Convention.” 

The Massive Ten championship sport is scheduled for Dec. 19.  

Might Ohio State make the School Soccer Playoff with out taking part in within the Massive Ten championship sport?  

That’s going to be an fascinating debate if Ohio State doesn’t meet the six-game requirement within the Massive Ten. If the typical variety of video games within the convention is eight or seven, the the Buckeyes’ hopes to play within the convention championship sport can be dashed. 

Ohio State may, in idea, nonetheless play a sixth sport on Dec. 19 in opposition to one other Massive Ten faculty given the convention had deliberate that every one the convention faculties would play a cross-division sport on the ultimate weekend. If that had been the case, Wisconsin would doubtless be the most effective opponent.

It’s price figuring out that Ohio State is the one Massive Ten staff to make the School Soccer Playoff with out profitable the convention. The Buckeyes had one loss in 2016 — a head-to-head defeat to Penn State. The Nittany Lions had two losses however received the convention championship. Ohio State, nonetheless, made the School Soccer Playoff.  

The Buckeyes have but to lose a Massive Ten convention sport below Ryan Day and are the highest-ranked staff within the convention. If Ohio State had been to play six or seven video games and keep unbeaten, then it may make that case even when it didn’t make the journey to Indianapolis.  

Would that be sufficient to sway the committee to permit the Buckeyes — who’ve made the School Soccer Playoff 4 instances since 2014 — to be a part of the four-team discipline? Would which have extra weight than, say, an undefeated Northwestern staff that doesn’t play the Buckeyes?  

Will this be settled on the sector?  

That’s to be decided. Wisconsin and Maryland each missed two weeks of video games when their packages went on pause due to COVID-19.  

The Buckeyes don’t get pleasure from a bye week, and the CFP made an announcement by placing Clemson (7-1) forward of Ohio State within the first set of rankings.  

Ohio State is the three-time defending Massive Ten champion, has a returning Heisman Trophy finalist in Justin Fields and is probably the most gifted staff within the convention.  

Northwestern, nonetheless, has the potential to have an analogous resume with a convention championship. That might create a multitude for each the Massive Ten and the School Soccer Playoff. Would the Massive Ten be prepared to vary its convention championship necessities figuring out Indiana and Maryland are the one one-loss groups within the Massive Ten East? Would the CFP take the Wildcats over the Buckeyes? 

That is also to be decided, however it will be a heated argument. 

A playoff berth may be out of Ohio State’s management at this level. That is yet one more robust resolution for the convention and the CFP committee in a season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Issues will solely get extra sophisticated if the Buckeyes miss one other sport.