Scarlet and Game
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Ohio State Football: How viable is November start for Big Ten season

By Peter Burtnett

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 01: General view of the Big Ten logo on a yard marker during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes defeated the Scarlet Knights 58-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 01: General view of the Big Ten logo on a yard marker during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on October 1, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes defeated the Scarlet Knights 58-0. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 18: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts to slip past Del’Shawn Phillips #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Cameron Watkins #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the game on November 18, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Illinois 52-14. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 18: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts to slip past Del’Shawn Phillips #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Cameron Watkins #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini during the game on November 18, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Illinois 52-14. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Week 1: @ Illinois – This first match-up would likely be played in Indianapolis, though St. Louis is also a possibility as it is closer to Illinois’ campus and would keep some form of home-field advantage for Illinois.

Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12: home against Rutgers, Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan, and Iowa – For home games, I imagine the Big Ten would giving Indianapolis as Ohio State’s “home stadium”, meaning The Game against Michigan would be played outside of Columbus or Ann Arbor for the first time in the storied rivalry history.

Week 3: @ Purdue – Ohio State would likely find themselves at Lucas Oil Stadium once again in Indy, with no other domed location being a real possibility that makes sense.

Week 7: @ Michigan State – Finally leaving Indianapolis, the Buckeyes would meet the Spartans at Detroit’s Ford Field for a rematch of the 34-10 Buckeye win.

Weeks 9 and 10: @ Maryland, Penn State: Here’s where things would get interesting, as these games push into late January, potentially interfering with the likely location for both games: the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Detroit would work if the venue is booked either week, but this is where the viability of this “plan” begins to unravel.

Having some form of Big Ten football for Ohio State is a nice thought and the main reason for putting together this speculative article.

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