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Ohio State football: President Johnson wanted OSU to go independent in 2020

By Ryan Stano

Ohio State University director of athletics Gene Smith and president Kristina Johnson listen to Gov. Mike DeWine speak after he toured the COVID-19 mass vaccination facility set up at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.Gov Dewine Tours Vaccination Site
Ohio State University director of athletics Gene Smith and president Kristina Johnson listen to Gov. Mike DeWine speak after he toured the COVID-19 mass vaccination facility set up at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.Gov Dewine Tours Vaccination Site /
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After being on the job for only a couple of months, President Kristina Johnson was thrown into a wild situation when the Big Ten canceled the football season in 2020. She then wanted to see if OSU could go independent that year.

2020 was a year that no Ohio State football fan will forget, for a variety of reasons. Ohio State obviously made a great run and went all the way to the National Championship Game. It almost didn’t go that far though, and that season was almost not played.

After the Big Ten made an announcement to cancel the Fall season, everyone was up in arms. Plenty of people were angry, including Ohio State football parents. Nebraska publicly was looking for a way to play independently and leave the Big Ten for 2020. Ohio State apparently took a look at that too.

According to a public records request by Eleven Warriors, President Johnson asked Athletic Director Gene Smith if there was some way that the team could play independently in the Fall. Smith said he was looking at their contract with the Big Ten and if anything could be done.

President Johnson had the backs of Ohio State football players and fans

As we know, the Buckeyes weren’t able to do that and ultimately were able to play football with the rest of the conference starting in October. What’s very important is that Johnson recognized the importance of these players getting a chance to play.

Johnson showed that even though she was just a few months into her tenure as Ohio State President, she was going to fight for her students and student-athletes. She quickly became someone who all of the students embraced. That wasn’t the case under former President Michael Drake.

While the Buckeyes weren’t able to break away from the Big Ten and play their own schedule in 2020, it’s great to know that Johnson, and Smith for that matter, were exploring all of their possible options. They both were listening to players, parents, and fans.

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I’m glad the Buckeyes did get a chance to play last Fall. I’m also glad they won’t have to worry about that this season.

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