There is talk that the Buckeyes are looking at a November start to the season. There are also reports that the Big Ten could jump-start things some other time in the fall. While this is all still just being discussed, there are questions as to what this would actually accomplish for the players and the school itself. While we don’t know what exactly will happen, we can make some guesses.
If the Buckeyes start in November, the College Football Playoff is still probably a long shot. While it does mean that the school will get eyeballs during the regular season, it does little on the national scale for the legacy of the program. While there are some benefits, this is not one of them.
The biggest benefit, however, would be that players would have a chance to showcase themselves before a spring season where many would probably not play. So a player like Baron Browning would have a chance to increase his draft stock, it may not fully help Justin Fields completely. Instead of trying to put together some plays against marginal competition in the spring, this serves the players better long term.
Without a bowl or playoff, the school would still get revenue from the TV deal, and it could help the entire Big Ten in the long term. So perhaps not the most ideal, it allows the school to save some face, collect valuable money, and write it off as just being a part of 2020. It would also help to offset a potential $130 million projected loss because of all the revenue football brings in the door.
Big Ten now discussing football season that would begin Thanksgiving weekend https://t.co/dqM2Gu4Kg1
— Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) August 28, 2020
Another positive would be to allow young players to start getting playing time. Regardless of whether the more experienced players play or not, if the team is not aiming for the playoffs, it allows others to get some action that would probably not have seen as much field time.
What we don’t know is what a schedule would look like, which other schools are playing, and how seniors would still view a season in November. While this is all talk currently, revenue and legacy are important. While the legacy may take a hit, playing football will go a long way to help with recruiting and keep eyes on the school.
