Report: Ohio State considered playing Ohio this weekend to replace canceled Michigan game

Turns out the speculation was true, and Ohio State was looking to find other schools to play in case it needed to add a game to their schedule.

While plenty of scenarios were making the rounds, including potential matchups with Texas A&M and Oklahoma, according to a report from Rob Oller of Buckeye Xtra, the Buckeyes had talked with Ohio University.

“Actually, Ohio State was looking to fill its own Saturday schedule before choosing Wednesday to stop pursuing a make-up game,” Oller wrote. “… What we do know is that in doing his due diligence Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith reached out to schools that had Saturday open, including Ohio University, before deciding the best course of action was no action.”

Ohio State looked into playing Ohio University on Saturday before dropping the idea. https://t.co/BudrpPSTee

— Rob Oller (@rollerCD) December 10, 2020

But, as the Big Ten removed the minimum game threshold for teams to play in the conference championship, the Buckeyes will still have a chance to take on Northwestern, and look to improve their College Football Playoff chances.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big Ten has prohibited its schools from playing in non-conference games in 2020, although the thought was that Ohio State may have been able to get an exception from the league.