The Big Ten Conference has announced a schedule for the shortened fall football season, which will see just 10 games against other schools within the conference.
Ohio State University will start with an away game against Illinois on Thursday, September 3.
Normally, Ohio State would play its annual rival game against the University of Michigan toward the end of the season. But this time around, that matchup will happen at home on October 24. It will be the first time since 1942 that the rivals don’t play at the end of the season.
The full schedule is:
- September 3 – Illinois (away)
- September 12 – Rutgers
- September 19 – Purdue (away)
- September 26 – Indiana
- October 3 – BYE
- October 10 – Nebraska
- October 17 – Michigan State (away)
- October 24 – Michigan
- October 31 – at Maryland
- November 7 – at Penn State
- November 14 – BYE
- November 21 – Iowa
- November 28 – OPEN
- December 5 – Big Ten Championship Game
For home games, the capacity at Ohio Stadium will be limited to 20% capacity. Attendees will be required to wear face coverings, with other restrictions on concessions and tailgaiting.
Big Ten teams are only playing against other schools within their conference in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. All sports in the conference will be required to test for COVID-19 at least once a week, while football must do so twice a week.
Anyone who tests positive but is asymptomatic will be required to isolate for at least 10 days. And if anyone has close contact with someone who tests positive, they will be required to self-quarantine for two weeks.
In July, Ohio State suspended voluntary workouts for student-athletes for a week after a round of COVID-19 tests. However, the school is not disclosing how many tested positive.
