Ohio State Briefly Considered Independent Schedule After Big Ten Postponed Fall Football Season

President Kristina M. Johnson and athletic director Gene Smith explored all options last fall.

Documents released by the university on Wednesday evening showed that Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson and athletic director Gene Smith briefly explored the possibility of the Buckeyes playing an independent schedule after the Big Ten postponed fall sports last August.

Ohio State released a ton of documents today about the Big Ten initially canceling the fall season. Among them, Buckeyes AD Gene Smith admitting via text the Buckeyes were exploring going independent in 2020 like Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/dnhSskYWOH

— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) May 26, 2021

At 8:04 a.m. on Aug. 12, the morning after the conference’s announcement, Johnson texted Smith asking if there was “Any way to go independent?” Smith replied, saying he was “trying to understand our contracts and if we can play independent this year. Nebraska is trying too and gone public with it.”

The Cornhuskers were vocal about their desire to play last fall despite the Big Ten’s decision but going independent for one season wasn’t a viable option due to the conference’s media rights.

Smith told Johnson later that afternoon he “challenged the league” on playing an independent schedule before speaking to Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, at which time he said, “We cannot play this fall.”

Of course, the Big Ten ultimately reversed course and played a conference-only schedule that saw Ohio State win its fourth straight Big Ten title and reach the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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