Ohio State AD: We could've played vs. Illinois

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith provided an update on the school's current COVID-19 situation following a recent rise in positive cases.

"We're seeing in our case a community type of spread," said Smith, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. We didn't see spikes in specific areas. Could we have played? Sure. Was it the right thing to play? No."

Ohio State called off its game against Illinois after additional positive cases were revealed. Head coach Ryan Day also tested positive Friday.

Team doctor Jim Borchers confirmed the spike was a late development.

"We never reached a threshold where we couldn't participate or practice until yesterday afternoon, he said. This is not something that was going on on Tuesday. This is something that really happened later in the week."

Day described the ordeal as "a very, very emotional and difficult week for everybody in the program."

It's the Buckeyes' second game to be canceled this season. Their matchup against Maryland was nixed earlier in November due to an outbreak within the Terrapins program.

A third cancellation would prevent the Buckeyes from being eligible for the Big Ten Championship since the program would fall under the six-game minimum threshold.

Smith outlined what needs to happen for Ohio State to be able to return to the field.

"I think we need to continue to test and see that there's no more positives that occur," he said, according to Colin Hass-Hill of Eleven Warriors. "We need to make sure that we're working with our conference office that they're confident in what we're doing."

The Buckeyes are scheduled to travel to East Lansing for a game against Michigan State on Dec.5.