Ohio State coach Ryan Day tests positive for COVID-19, Buckeyes’ game against Illinois called off

Ohio State’s No. 4 game against Illinois scheduled for Saturday has been called off, schedules announced Friday night, less than 14 hours before kick-off. The decision to call off the game, which was scheduled for noon ET, came after Ohio state coach Ryan Day tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.

Day’s positive test came as part of “an increased number of positive tests this week,” according to a statement from the state of Ohio.

Ohio state assistant head coach / defensive line coach Larry Johnson was scheduled to be interim coach for the Buckeyes on Saturday before the game was called off.

The cancellation means that the state of Ohio will only play seven games, at most, this season before the college football playoffs announce its participants on Dec. 20. If the Buckeyes have another game called off, they will not be eligible for the Big Ten title, according to league protocols. .

The COVID-19 outbreak in the state of Ohio contrasts with the program’s previous claim that “almost 0% positivity since August 11”. Before the game was canceled, the Buckeyes had changed their travel plans due to the positive tests. Instead of flying to Illinois on Friday, the team planned to fly on Saturday morning, arriving just hours before kickoff.