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Kirk Herbstreit said Tuesday night he thinks Michigan will try to spoil Ohio State’s Big Ten Championship hopes.
“I still think Michigan waves the white flag and doesn’t play Ohio State next week,” Herbstreit said shortly after the latest College Football Playoff rankings reveal.
Ohio State has missed two games already this season due to COVID-19, so the Buckeyes will not be eligible to compete in the Big Ten Championship Game if they miss one more game.
As of now, Michigan has not had to cancel any games so far this season due to an outbreak. However, the Wolverines have moved all football activities to “virtual” as they try to keep their positive cases down.
It’s not clear what the College Football Playoff would do with the Buckeyes if they have just five or six wins and aren’t able to compete in the Big Ten Championship. As of now, however, Ohio State remains in the top 4.
Ohio State and Michigan are scheduled to play in less than two weeks on Dec. 12.
Here’s some of the reaction to Herbstreit’s comments:
https://twitter.com/ericksmith/status/1333928681065099264
After Kirk Herbstreit raised the possibility that Michigan might decide not to play next week vs. Ohio State to avoid an ugly loss – he stressed he has no inside info — Rece Davis said any team that did that would lack character.
— Bill Rabinowitz ? (@brdispatch) December 2, 2020
Damn. Herbstreit said coaches around the country think teams are opting out of games that could easily play. Just don’t want to get rolled so they say game off – COVID. With dudes getting fired at this rate, it’s 100% believable & surely happening
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/JTansey90/status/1333929180984176641
Ok I don't agree with Herbstreit, that teams are opting out to avoid beatdowns, but that sure was good TV.
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 2, 2020
Herbstreit and Rece Davis basically challenging Michigan to play OSU next week and hinting that if they don't, they're cowards. This could get salty.
— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) December 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/TMcHargue16/status/1333929273539878912
Either Herbstreit is talking completely out of his backside, or he just spilled the beans on Michigan’s Covid situation. https://t.co/HPZaAB4K8P
— 〽️Mario〽️ |#BLM (@NotLuigi89) December 2, 2020
Why is ESPN allowing Kirk Herbstreit to just toss stuff around about teams using COVID as an excuse with no sourcing?
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) December 2, 2020
Kirk Herbstreit says he's talked to coaches who think teams are "opting out" of games just to avoid getting humiliated.
That's a bold accusation.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 2, 2020
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
