The Big Ten won't be playing football this fall and neither will the Buckeyes.
Following the Big Ten's postponement announcement, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has reportedly made it clear that the Buckeyes have no intention of attempting to play a fall football season outside of the conference and will prepare for a spring season, according to multiple reports.
"That's not realistic," Smith told NBC4.
"We’ve been a member of the Big Ten for a long time We share the same values as our member institutions,” said Smith. “We’re in the Big Ten. We’re not looking to play someone else outside our conference. We have a contract that we’re obligated to with our television partners.”
This comes a day after Ohio State head coach Ryan Day left that open as a possibility if the conference decided to postpone its fall football season.
"We need to look at every option," Day said on ESPN's College Football Live. "If that's the only option at the time, we need to explore it, see if that's something we can possibly do. Because if it is, and that's what's best for our kids, then we need to look at that and do it."
While Ohio State will not attempt to play outside of the Big Ten, other schools might.
Nebraska released a joint statement from Scott Frost, president Ted Carter and chancellor Ronnie Green on Tuesday afternoon saying they hope to still possibly compete this fall.
Smith and Ohio State president-elect Kristina Johnson were against postponing the fall football season, but will now work to ensure the team can play in the spring.
“We’re looking at the spring as an option," Smith said. "Up until today, it was not an option for me, relative to my mindset. But, Ryan and I just spent some time talking about the possibilities, and I’m embracing it.
