After an increased number of positive COVID-19 tests with the Ohio State Football Program, the Buckeyes now find their second canceled game of the year and consequently plenty of strangers.
With even more balance hanging in the balance, we take a look at some of the delayed questions about the rest of the Ohio State season.
When will the state of Ohio be able to return?
The answer cannot be fully known until Ohio State announces the threshold set by the Big Ten or the need to cancel. A team spokesman declined to say whether Friday evening was the same case.
If bookies, in fact, meet the threshold set by the Big Ten that needs to be shut down – 5 percent of players and 7.5 percent of all Tier 1 employees (players, coaches, staff and more) – they will not be able to for at least seven days. Getting back on the field. If that’s the case, the state of Ohio will be sidelined, at least until next Friday. Can the bookies, in the best case scenario, return to a practice facility before traveling to Michigan State for a game? Possible, but unlikely. In this case, they will most likely miss two games in a row.
If the threshold was not reached, however, Ohio State’s next step is unknown. Not every Big Ten team that has canceled games due to COVID-19 has hit the threshold. But some who hit the threshold – including Maryland and Wisconsin – also led to the cancellation of the two games. At this point, there was a team-wide outbreak that prompted the cancellation less than 24 hours before the kickoff, which looks like a possible outcome.
What if Ohio State does not qualify for the Big Ten Championship game?
Fans of Ohio State are naturally concerned about the team’s ability to play in the Big Ten Championship this year, but a major change in this year’s conference schedule is that each Big Ten team will match opponents based on conference standing over the weekend of the championship.
So, if Ohio State does not qualify for the Big Ten Championship game, the bookies will still schedule a game that weekend, presumably. Against the ranked Wisconsin team. While it may not be right to match up with an unbeaten Northwestern team with the Big Ten title on the line, it’s not all or nothing; A win against the Badgers would also help the Buccaneers resume their playoffs.
Of course, all this is to assume the big ten sticks with the requirement of six games.
Does the Big Ten rethink the championship game minimum?
We all live in a world where Big Ten postponed the season to Spring to Tu and doubled down on the decision within just a week to do a little reversal a month later. Therefore, anything is possible. Earlier this fall, the council established a precedent that could change a decision it had already made.
Now, will the Big Ten make a difference here? It’s hard to know.
The state of Ohio could try to throw its power around to make a case for eliminating the game’s minimum, which is arbitrary. And the conference knows that it would be a little weird if the undefeated Buccaneers beat the Indiana team in the fourth week of the regular season to seed the division.
Given how Big Ten handled the Fall Football season postponement (cancellation?) A few months ago, it’s hard to know how Ohio State – and / or other teams – would react if they wanted to force a change.
Is it possible to fall below the average of the 6 games played?
Actually, no.
By simple math, the average number of games played falls below six, it would cancel 14 in the season. We are currently on six cancellations for the season, including two canceled games this weekend with just two weeks left. That means we need to see eight voids in the next two weeks, more than the number of games remaining.
If the Big Ten have to cancel more than half of their games in the next two weeks, we won’t see the Big Ten championship game regardless of who qualifies.
When the season returns, how many players will Ohio State be without?
Another way to ask this question would be, “How many players have tested positive?” We don’t know the answer, as Ohio State never released its bias partnership report.
What we do know is that those who test positive will now be sidelined for 21 days, they will be denied for both Michigan State and Michigan games, if Ohio State is able to play in any of those competitions.
Then there is also the possibility of potential midsection opt outs as we have already seen in other schools.
Does this roster remain intact?
Ohio State’s future is full of NFL talent, and it could work against the bookies if the Covid-19 situation continues in the wrong direction in the coming days and weeks.
Some of these players returned to Ohio State to pursue national championships and improve their NFL draft stocks. If it seems that the Bookies’ Football League football playoff chances are out of the window and / or they feel they have already shown enough to strengthen their drafting position, the players are likely to leave the team and start preparing for their NFL draft early. Can.
We’ve already seen that happen with Minnesota’s Rashod Batman, who announced last week that he was leaving the team midseason to focus on preparing for his NFL draft. There is at least one chance at Ohio State that we should see it, if the players think they can no longer accomplish their goals.
Does College Ledge Football return to the playoffs?
We know that College Ledge Football has entertained the idea of advancing at least the playoff fun, but so far has insisted on maintaining its current timeline with officials, who say it is behind the play create fun to create a longer regular season. Will not bring.
Canceling at the end of the season could potentially be a headache for the selection committee, we’ll see if the CFP reconsiders its stance.
Can Ohio State still make the playoffs with such little games?
Our Dan Hope went into more detail on how the Ohio State COVID-19 situation affects the bookies’ playoff chances, but the short answer is yes.
Even if Ohio State does not play another game throughout the season, the bookies will still have a chance to make the playoffs technically, as the committee said teams will not need a minimum number of games to qualify for the playoffs.
In response to a question and answer published by the committee on its website last weekend, the committee said the selection committee’s job is to select the top four teams starting November 24 and continue in the December 20 final rankings. “The number of games and wins by each team is certainly important considering its ranking, but it’s not the only factor.”
Of course, more games will definitely help the Buccaneers resume their playoffs, but if the committee thinks Ohio State is one of the nation’s top four teams, the Buccaneers could technically make the field regardless of how many games they’ve played.
