We now finally know what the Ohio State football season will look like on paper. That’s because the Big Ten released the entire conference-only schedule on Wednesday, so rather than guess, assume, and opine on things that are theory only with the revised schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we now have some real plans to look at.
There are some things that stand out about the new schedule and we’ve pulled out five things that stood out to us as we scanned the layout of everything with what’s being called a “Jenga” schedule. Keep in mind, just because we’ve now got a slate of games doesn’t mean that the season is a guarantee to be played.
However, at this point, at least there’s a robust plan to do everything possible to have college football this fall while keeping the health and safety of all involved at the forefront of everything.
Next … The Game
The Game’s move to October
Obviously, the first thing that everyone is going to notice is that the annual grudge match between Ohio State and Michigan has been moved from the last Saturday in November.
It’s the first time since 1942 that the two haven’t played each other as the last regular-season conference game of the season. It’s a game dripping with tradition, and many won’t like it, but it’s the right move. We wrote about it before, but putting the game in the middle of the schedule makes sense. It allows for a re-schedule if needed, but also allows each team to get some games under their belt for it to mean a little more than it would out of the gate.
So yeah, it’s not ideal, but neither is going through a pandemic. I give the conference credit for being creative here. Heck, it might even be fun to have a little warmer weather, right before Halloween. I mean the game might be scary enough for Michigan anyhow, so it fits.
Next … A weekday start
Starting the season on a Thursday on the road
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.
Next … A crossover opponent as the additional game
Extra crossover opponent as the tenth game
There was some speculation that the tenth game added to the schedule would come as a double-up of a division opponent. Was it possible that Ohio State could play a team like Michigan or Penn State twice? If not, would the league reach across to the other division and select a highly competitive game between two powers?
The answer is no, and no.
It simply never made sense to play a division opponent more than once because of equitable competition principles. But I am a little surprised that the league didn’t try to add a team like Wisconsin as the additional cross-division opponent. Instead, it’s one against Purdue on the road.
Still, that’s a bit of a win for Ohio State because this schedule is going to be a grind anyway. Then again, no program has given OSU more fits at their place in the last few years than the program with the world’s biggest drum.
Next … Three open dates
Three dates remain open for scheduling
The main reason why The Big Ten went to a conference-only schedule is to allow flexibility during the pandemic. There are going to be players test positive for COVID-19 which means we are most likely to have disruptions that will call for the rescheduling of games.
Because of that, all teams — including Ohio State — have three open dates built into the schedule. The Buckeyes have open dates on October 3 after the game with Indiana, after the trip to Penn State on November 14, and then the date the conference has left open for all teams in-between the last regular-season game and the Big Ten Championship Game. The date of that opening is November 28.
In a sport that often has its brass and leaders criticized, the schedule is nothing short of a collaborative masterclass. Once again, the Big Ten has led the way on how to do be creative, and all of this is set up the best possible way to try and see football in 2020 amidst some of the most challenging times any of us have seen.
Next … Iowa as the last regular-season game of the year
Three regular-season concludes with Iowa
I know if you are like me, you were looking forward to Ohio State welcoming Iowa to the ‘Shoe in 2020. It’s been three years since that dark day in October of 2017 when the Hawkeyes pasted the Buckeyes 55-24 in Iowa City.
Since then, Iowa fans and players continue to talk about it in the same breath as their wedding day and birth of their firstborn. Nevermind the fact that the Hawkeyes promptly went out got spanked the following game by Wisconsin and then lost again to Purdue after that, it has all been about taking OSU behind the woodshed.
Look, in some ways we get it. It was a big win, and Iowa should be credited for playing as well as it did. However, many Ohio State fans were ready to exact revenge on the program. Now, there will still be that chance in late November.
Good.
