The Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes football game has been canceled due to COVID-19, it was announced on Tuesday.
The two schools were scheduled to meet at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Dec. 12. The game was canceled due to “…an increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases and (Michigan) student-athletes in quarantine over the past week.”
“The number of positive tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last seven days,” said Michigan Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “We have not been cleared to participate in practice at this time. Unfortunately, we will not be able to field a team due to COVID-19 positives and the associated quarantining required of close-contact individuals. This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision-making.”
This is the first time since 1917 that Michigan and Ohio State will not square off on the gridiron.
Ohio State, 5-0 so far this season, are now left without a game this weekend and are one conference win short of the Big Ten’s requirement to play in the championship game. That requirement, of course, could be changed by the conference.
Northwestern has already secured their spot in the championship game, which is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
Both teams will now wait to find out their next opponent. Ohio State may try to play this weekend if the conference allows, and both teams are slated to play other conference members on championship Saturday if they do not play in the game.
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Big Ten can either follow the rules or follow the money.
Why have the rule if they are going to change it for OSU. Bet they wouldn’t change it for Rutgers or Maryland.
As somepne who lives near Ann Arbor,I can tell you you that the Wolverine fanbase celebrated this news as if they had actually beaten the Buckeyes.
Michigan can always celebrate their win over Rutgers.