Ohio State slams the door on any hope of a fall football season

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith shut the door on any potential of the Buckeyes having a fall football season one day after the Big Ten postponed the season to the spring.

There was a glimmer of hope among Ohio State football fans on Wednesday morning and afternoon after Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day spoke to the media on a Zoom call when he said they were exploring all options to find a way to play this fall.

On Tuesday, the Big Ten announced there would be no fall football season due to the uncertainty with the long-term effects of the coronavirus and associated risks and unknowns. On Wednesday, those hopes of finding a way to play this season have been dashed.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith released a statement on Wednesday evening to put those rumors to rest and they are focused on a plan for spring football.

Ohio State statement on planning for spring football ends any hope of a fall season

"“Ohio State has continued its communications with the Big Ten Conference office regarding a scenario to still play fall football games, but has now determined that this would not be an allowable opportunity for us to move toward.”“We are 100 percent focused on supporting the health and safety and academic success of our student-athletes, and on working with the Big Ten to develop a spring plan for our sports as expeditiously as possible.”"

There was really no chance of Ohio State moving forward despite pleas from Day, quarterback Justin Fields and several other Buckeyes after the Big Ten’s decision. Ohio State was not going to leave the Big Ten and join the Big 12, SEC or ACC for a season to get a football season.

It’s unfortunate and was difficult to accept because this could have been one of the best Ohio State football teams in their illustrious history. Ohio State was the preseason No. 2 team in the Coaches Poll and were the prohibitive favorites to win the Big Ten and make another appearance in the College Football Playoff, potentially setting up a rematch with Clemson.

There will be more questions to answer in the coming weeks and months as it relates to the logistics of a spring football season and if players like Fields, Shaun Wade, Wyatt Davis and other top NFL Draft prospects would play in such a season ahead of the NFL Draft.

But what we do know is there will not be Ohio State in the fall this year for the first time in more than a century.

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