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Media reacts to news of Michigan-Maryland cancellation
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The strangest year anyone can remember has coincided with one of the worst seasons anyone’s ever seen from the grand old Michigan football program.
The Wolverines are 2-4 and now guaranteed a losing season after calling off Saturday’s game in Ann Arbor against the Maryland Terrapins. The Covid cancellation means the Dec. 12 game against mortal rival Ohio State will be the last of the season, if Michigan can find a way to play it.
The Buckeyes need “The Game,” and the matchup this Saturday against Michigan State, to be eligible for the Big Ten championship Dec. 19. If Ohio State can’t get in six regular season games they will be ineligible for the division title, which would by default go to the Indiana Hoosiers. This would severely undermine the Buckeye’s College Football Playoff resume and might mean the league would not have a participant in the sport’s championship rounds.
College football media reacted on Twitter to the news of Michigan’s cancellation, which comes a day after ESPN college football chieftain Kirk Herbstreit charged the program with waving the white flag on the season because of poor play and results. It was a charge he apologized for almost immediately afterward.
Some of the media’s comments can be found below.
One last note re: Michigan pausing activity:
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 2, 2020
Unless the Big Ten goes through with finding the Terrapins another opponent, this is their third cancellation, and thus renders them ineligible for the Big Ten title game. Would mean it's just down to IU, OSU in the East. #iufb
If Michigan can't play Ohio State, the Big Ten should take the Pac-12 approach and just find them another game. Someone else will inevitably get canceled on.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 2, 2020
Michigan pauses football practices & in-person football activities. Earliest Michigan can return to practice is Monday, Dec. 7. UM-Ohio State game scheduled for Dec. 12
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 2, 2020
Michigan won't play this week, putting next week's game against Ohio State in jeopardy. https://t.co/EOWwgtYX36
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) December 2, 2020
Not expecting a Maryland-Northwestern rematch, per sources. If Ohio State were to cancel against Michigan State, would make sense for Maryland and MSU to make up game that was canceled earlier.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 2, 2020
Folks in Columbus now must wait to learn if the Buckeyes will face Michigan on the 12th. Growing chatter (in the media) that B1G should amend its policy on minimum number of games needed to be eligible for league title game. Will it? 🤔 https://t.co/P272VT3GZJ
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) December 2, 2020
Woo boy. The Michigan-Ohio State thing is officially in play. https://t.co/wpkfgsBrhm
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 2, 2020
If Michigan can't play Ohio State next week, Buckeyes are ineligible for the Big Ten title game. https://t.co/j2IQj3K7Bg
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 2, 2020
Saturday’s Maryland at Michigan game canceled because of COVID issues at Michigan, sources told @Stadium. 1st report Yahoo. So if Wolverines can’t play following week vs. Ohio State, Buckeyes would be ineligible for B1G title game
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 2, 2020
Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.