Ohio State football: Can Chris Olave, other Buckeyes, return for College Football Playoff?

Ohio State is without 22 players for the Big Ten Championship Game vs. Northwestern due to COVID, but can those players return in time for the College Football Playoff?

The Ohio State football team will be without several key players against Northwestern as the Buckeyes look to win the Big Ten. While not expressly communicated for all of the inactive players, it’s assumed they are out due to COVID-related reasons.

Leading receiver Chris Olave, linebacker Baron Browning and punter Drue Chrisman are among the players sidelined. Only Chrisman has confirmed he’s out due to COVID.

Olave is the biggest name of those out, but the overall depleted depth for the Buckeyes can’t be discounted. Plus, not having your punter — even if you’re not planning on punting that often — is a tricky loss to overcome.

Olave was Justin Fields‘ favorite target, leading the Buckeyes with 36 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns. Browning was second on the team in tackles. With Olave out, true freshman Julian Fleming starts.

Can Ohio State’s players out with COVID return for College Football Playoff?

Big Ten rules state players out for COVID must sit for 21 days. That means if any or all of these players listed above tested positive this week, they will be out for the College Football Playoff games.

The semifinals are on Jan. 1 and the National Championship Game is on Jan. 11 so if the Buckeyes make the playoff, which they will with a win vs. Northwestern, they will be without these players.

Of course, the Big Ten could always change their COVID protocol rules. It wouldn’t be the first time the Big Ten bent the rules to benefit Ohio State after the conference athletic directors amended the six-game minimum rule needed to be eligible for the Big Ten Championship Game.

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