OSU dealing with COVID issues ahead of Big Ten title game?

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1)after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State dealing with COVID-19 issues ahead of Big Ten title game?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/17/20

Earlier this month, Big Ten athletic directors agreed to scrap a previously announced rule that mandated teams must finish a minimum of six games to be eligible for the conference title matchup. This cleared the 5-0 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 4 in the current College Football Playoff rankings, to face the Northwestern Wildcats in the league title tilt this coming Saturday.

It appears Ohio State may not be out of the woods just yet.

As Brendan Gulick explained for Sports Illustrated, noted Ohio State insider Jeff Snook posted on his Facebook page that the Buckeyes are dealing with COVID-19 issues:

"Some bad news leaking from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center: At least one very prominent starter on offense and several others have tested positive and will miss Saturday’s Big Ten title game against Northwestern. I will not release the names. If the game would have to be canceled, it will not be rescheduled and Ohio State’s hopes for making the college football playoff probably would be gone."

Additionally, college football analyst Rick Neuheisel said on SiriusXM Radio that an Ohio State star wide receiver tested positive for the coronavirus.

This IS NOT confirmed, but SiriusXM's Rick Neuheisel is reporting that an OSU "star wide receiver" has tested positive for COVID.

That seems to indicate Olave or Wilson. If true, we don't know how contact tracing will impact the team, or if B1G's 21-day rule applies to CFP.
— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) December 17, 2020

Chris Olave leads Ohio State with 36 receptions, while Garrett Wilson has tallied a team-best 572 receiving yards on the campaign. Both have five touchdown catches this season.

As of early Thursday afternoon, the Buckeyes remained scheduled to play against Northwestern. It's widely believed the Big Ten Championship Game would be canceled and not postponed if Ohio State cannot safely field a team this coming weekend.

Many observers have speculated that Ohio State must defeat Northwestern to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.

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