12 noon kickoff Saturday against Spartans

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football team will travel to East Lansing, Mich., Friday evening in advance of its game Saturday against the Michigan State Spartans. Kickoff at Spartan Stadium is set for 12:06 p.m. on ABC.

Ohio State’s successful and safe return to the playing field began after the cancellation of its game against Illinois last weekend as all team related activities were paused for two days following an increase in positive tests within the program. Risk mitigation efforts, such as virtual team meetings and small group workouts, were reinforced as the team returned to activities at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Ohio State’s team medical staff, under the direction of Dr. Jim Borchers, increased and enhanced COVID-19 testing this week. The team continues to be tested daily, in adherence with Big Ten Conference protocols, and has enhanced its polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing surveillance throughout the week.

“We are very confident that we are heading to East Lansing with a team that can safely compete and whose health, safety and well-being has been our utmost concern,” Borchers said. “We’ve tested, monitored and evaluated our results daily and have advised the student-athletes, coaches and performance staff accordingly.

“Our population positivity rate, which exceeded the threshold for participation at this time last week, has now returned on the seven-day rolling average to a level that allows us to compete safely this weekend.”

The Department of Athletics kept the Big Ten Conference and Michigan State University informed during the week.

“We currently have student-athletes and staff in either isolation or quarantine protocols right now,” Borchers said, “and everyone is recovering and doing well.”

Head coach Ryan Day remains in isolation and will not travel to the game. He can resume on-field coaching on Monday. Assistant head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson will serve as interim head coach of the Buckeyes on Saturday.

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COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS