The University of Michigan football team does not have to worry about being humiliated by Ohio State this year. The game has been cancelled. The Wolverines simply do not have enough players to compete in the game.
“The number of positive (COVID-19) tests has continued to trend in an upward direction over the last seven days,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “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.”
Okay, not sure if Michigan fans are that disappointed, but whatever.
The ramifications are much more severe for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are clearly one of the top teams in the country and should be one of the four teams selected for the college football playoffs. However, the Big Ten instituted a new rule this year saying that if a team had three or more cancellations, it would be ineligible for the Big Ten Championship game. This is the Buckeyes’ third cancellation. Look for the league to change that rule very, very soon.
This will be the first time since 1917 that these two rivals haven’t met on the field. Ohio State would have almost certainly annihilated the Wolverines and were four-touchdown favorites this week.
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