COLUMBUS — The Ohio State-Illinois game is canceled.
The decision was made Friday night after further positive PCR tests by team members. It was revealed Friday afternoon that head coach Ryan Day would not attend the game on Saturday because he tested positive for the coronavirus.
The decision to cancel the game was made by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, university President Kristina M. Johnson, head team physician Dr. Jim Borchers, and in consultation with the Big Ten.
Ohio State, which already had one game canceled (Maryland) is now at the six-game threshold to be eligible for the Big Ten championship game. If next week’s game at Michigan State or the Michigan game Dec. 12 is canceled, the Buckeyes will not be eligible for the conference title game.
“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-athletes is our main concern, and our decisions on their welfare will continue to be guided by our medical staff.”
Team activities have been paused and will not be restarted until OSU’s medical staff determines it is safe to do so based on protocols established by the Big Ten.
Day must isolate for 10 days, putting his status for Michigan State in jeopardy. Any Ohio State player who tests positive must sit out for 21 days, meaning they will miss the Michigan game and return for a potential Big Ten championship game.
Defensive line coach Larry Johnson will serve as Ohio State’s interim head coach while Day is away.
“I have spoken with Coach Day, and he is doing well physically,” Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said. “I feel terrible for Coach and for the members of the program who have been diagnosed with a positive test. Coach Day and this team have been true leaders in handling things so well throughout this pandemic.
“All of the decisions on the welfare of our student-athletes and staff members will continue to be guided by our medical staff.”
Ohio State has consistently recorded nearly zero percent positivity since the Big Ten instituted daily testing. The Nov. 14 game at Maryland was canceled because of a coronavirus outbreak in the Maryland program.
“It’s an ongoing deal,” Day said in October. “This is going to go on for a while, and we have to continue to be vigilant in that area, not get fatigued with following all the protocols, doing what we have to do, and making the sacrifices that have been made. It’s an emphasis every single day.”
First Published November 27, 2020, 8:58 p.m.
