Why Did Ohio State Only Play 7 Games?

Why Did Ohio State Only Play 7 Games?

The 2020 college football season was unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes, impacting schedules, game availability, and even the number of games teams played. For the Ohio State Buckeyes, this resulted in a shortened season of just seven games. Let’s dig into the reasons behind this and explore the different aspects that led to this unusual situation.

The Impact of COVID-19 on College Football

The primary reason for Ohio State playing only seven games was the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to widespread disruptions across the country, and college football was no exception. Many conferences, including the Big Ten where Ohio State plays, had to make tough decisions about how to proceed with the season. Initially, there were discussions about potentially not having a season at all.

Initial Season Uncertainty

At the beginning of the summer of 2020, there was a lot of uncertainty about whether there would even be a college football season. Health officials were still learning about the virus, and there were concerns about how to protect the players, coaches, and staff. Many conferences initially decided to postpone the season, including the Big Ten. This meant that Ohio State’s season start was delayed, and the schedule was completely up in the air. The Big Ten eventually decided to go ahead with the football season in a shortened format, but the delay contributed to less available time to play games.

Conference Decisions and Schedule Adjustments

The Big Ten Conference eventually decided on a conference-only schedule. That meant Ohio State would only play other teams within their conference. This decision aimed to limit travel and potential exposure to the virus from other areas. While this made scheduling a bit easier, it also limited the number of potential opponents. The conference also created strict protocols around testing, tracing, and isolation, which all had to be taken into account when planning the season.

The Big Ten’s Shortened Season

After the initial delay and cancellation, the Big Ten decided on a late start to the season. The conference began playing in late October, which was much later than the typical start in late August or early September. This meant the entire season was compressed into a much shorter timeframe. The goal was to have each team play a certain number of games, while still allowing time for the playoffs.

Limited Game Schedule

The shortened timeframe meant that the Big Ten could not play their usual full schedule of games. The conference decided that each team would play eight regular season games. However, Ohio State only ended up playing seven. This was because one of their scheduled games was canceled.

Game Cancellations and Rescheduling Challenges

Game cancellations due to positive COVID-19 tests became a big issue for all teams. When a player or multiple players on a team tested positive, that team may not be able to play. The Big Ten tried to reschedule games if possible, but with the compressed schedule, rescheduling was not always possible. The rules set by the Big Ten required teams to have a specific number of players to be considered playable. If a team didn’t reach this minimum, their game was cancelled, contributing to the short season for many teams.

Ohio State’s Specific Game Cancellations

While most teams within the conference experienced cancellations, Ohio State experienced one of its own. This cancellation directly contributed to the seven-game schedule.

The Maryland Game Cancellation

Ohio State’s game against Maryland was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Maryland program. Due to the Big Ten’s policies, the game could not be played. Despite efforts from the Big Ten and Ohio State, a make-up game couldn’t be fit into the schedule. This cancellation left Ohio State with a final tally of seven games played.

Ohio State’s Path to the College Football Playoff

Even with the shortened season, Ohio State still had a chance to compete for the national championship. The team’s performance in the seven games was crucial because each game mattered much more than in a traditional season. The Buckeyes’ strength of schedule was evaluated differently due to the unique circumstances of the season.

Strength of Schedule

The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee had a challenge evaluating team’s strength of schedule. In a normal year, a team’s schedule is compared with all of the teams in the country, but in 2020, this was difficult because many teams played much fewer games and different opponents than usual. The CFP committee took this into account when evaluating which teams were deserving of a playoff spot.

Ohio State’s Strong Performance

Despite playing fewer games, Ohio State performed incredibly well throughout the shortened season. They were undefeated, winning all of their seven games. Because of this dominant performance, the CFP committee decided that Ohio State was one of the best teams in the country, despite not having played as many games as some other teams. The Buckeyes were able to make the playoff even with the shortened schedule, proving that quality wins can count for more than the number of games played.

Comparison to Other Teams

It’s important to note that Ohio State wasn’t the only team that played a reduced schedule. Many teams across the country, and in the Big Ten, had fewer games than normal.

Varying Schedules Across the Nation

Some conferences played full or near-full schedules, while others, including the Big Ten, significantly shortened the number of games played. This difference created an uneven playing field from a statistical perspective. Teams with more games had more opportunities to prove themselves while others with less games needed to win every game to have a shot at the playoffs.

Impact on National Rankings

The varying schedules made it harder for ranking committees to compare teams fairly. The shortened season forced them to rely more on game performance, rather than sheer number of games played. The teams that performed well and showed dominance against their competition ended up ranked higher than teams that were inconsistent, even if they had played more games.

Key Takeaways

Here’s a quick recap of why Ohio State played only 7 games:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to the 2020 college football season.
• The Big Ten initially delayed the start of the season and eventually implemented a conference-only schedule.
• The shortened season began later than normal, resulting in fewer weeks to play.
• Game cancellations, specifically the cancellation of the Maryland game due to a COVID-19 outbreak, further reduced Ohio State’s schedule.
• Ohio State’s strong performance allowed them to still make the College Football Playoff, proving the importance of winning games in a shortened season.

Looking Back on the 2020 Season

The 2020 college football season was a unique and challenging one. For Ohio State, and many other teams, the shortened season had both positives and negatives. It gave teams and players an opportunity to play, despite the odds, but also showed just how much COVID-19 impacted the landscape of sports. This unique year will definitely be remembered by players, coaches, and fans alike.

The reduced number of games meant that every game counted even more than usual. The Buckeyes had to perform at their peak each week to ensure a chance to compete at a national level. This unusual season highlighted the adaptability of both the teams and the conferences. The entire 2020 college football season serves as a great reminder of the impact that unexpected events can have on sports, and life in general. It required flexibility, resilience, and a bit of luck to navigate through it.