Ohio State coach Ryan Day is one of several individuals on the team who has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Friday. He was barred from coaching the team in its scheduled game Saturday at Illinois. (UPDATE: The game was canceled late Friday night.)
Per the Buckeyes' release — which did not specify how many in the program produced a positive COVID-19 test — the team underwent point of contact (POC) testing early Friday and determined it was still able to play against the Fighting Illini. The increased number of positive tests didn't reach the threshold to cancel the game, per Big Ten Conference testing protocols.
Assistant head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson was to have served as interim coach in Day's absence. It would have been his first game as acting head coach.
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"I have spoken with Coach Day, and he is doing well physically,” Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith said. "I feel terrible for Coach and for the members of the program who have been diagnosed with a positive test. Coach Day and this team have been true leaders in handling things so well throughout this pandemic. Our team wants to play this game, and we’re going to do everything we can to help make this happen. All of the decisions on the welfare of our student-athletes and staff members will continue to be guided by our medical staff."
Ohio State, out of an "abundance of caution," also announced it would delay its flight to Champaign, Ill., until early Saturday. The team was set to undergo extra polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing Friday, ensuring everyone who traveled to Illinois was confirmed negative for the coronavirus. (UPDATE 2: Ohio State said in a statement Friday night that "further positive tests" were discovered after the testing.)
No. 3 Ohio State (4-0) was to take on Illinois (2-3) at noon ET on Fox Sports 1.
Below is everything you need to know about Day and his coronavirus positive:
How long is Ryan Day out with COVID-19?
Per Big Ten coronavirus testing protocols, Day will face a 10-day isolation period before he can return to coach. He was slated to miss Saturday's game at Illinois and, depending on when he produced the positive test, could also miss the Michigan State game on Dec. 5. That is assuming, of course, he does not exhibit any symptoms.
Ohio State declined to specify when Day produced a positive test.
Ryan Day COVID-19 news
Nov. 27: Ohio State announces Day is one of several individuals on the team to test positive for coronavirus; the school says he will miss the Buckeyes' game vs. Illinois, which is later canceled.
