Buckeye Bits: NCAA working group to discuss fall sports, Buckeye hair swaps, more

Welcome back to Buckeye Bits, where we round up all of the most recent headlines from around the Ohio State beat and beyond. There’s a lot of ground to cover today, so let’s get into it.

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But first, check out this underdog (I’m sorry) pulling off an incredible upset.

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From around Land-Grant Holy Land...

Play Like a Girl podcast: Gundy, Dabo’s thoughts on COVID-19, NFL Draft-A-Thon, more

Tia Johnston and Meredith Hein, Land-Grant Holy Land

College football coaches are beginning to make their statements regarding the coronavirus’ impact on the upcoming college football season. Some of them are being realistic, encouraging, and informative, while the others are named Mike Gundy and Dabo Swinney.

Ohio State looking at their neighbors to the south for a pair of prospects

Caleb Houser, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ryan Day and Ohio State are not only going after two Kentucky natives, they’re going after the Bluegrass State’s No. 1 and No. 3 prospects. Go big or go home. Or rather... go big and go home? #StayHome

Ohio State’s QB room is the deepest it’s been in quite some time

Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

You have plenty of things to worry about right now. We’re happy to report Ohio State’s quarterback depth doesn’t have to be one of them!

Gene Smith said it’s too early to speculate about college football season, will need a return-to-play model first

Tia Johnston, Land-Grant Holy Land

Ohio State president Michael Drake and athletic director Gene Smith have each given their thoughts on the possibility of having a college football season this fall or even this year. In summary? It’s still too early to know anything.

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From around the gridiron...

I hate this.

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Teleconference Bullets: Gene Smith says discussions about football season haven’t begun, Ohio State will follow experts and more

Colin Hass-Hill, Eleven Warriors

Smith discussed the chances of a college football season in a radio interview on Friday morning, where he discussed the importance of a “return-to-play” model, the financial situation, and how its going to be awhile before we have many answers.

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NCAA establishes working group for COVID-19 solutions ahead of football, fall sports season

Griffin Strom, The Lantern

Speaking of answers regarding the fall sports season, the NCAA has established “The COVID-19 Playing and Practice Seasons Working Group” to work on “what-if” scenarios and come up with solutions and modifications. The group will focus on football first, but its findings will likely impact all fall sports.

The NCAA: big ‘working group’ guys

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Young, Okudah, Dobbins to take part in virtual 2020 NFL Draft

Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

The 2020 NFL Draft must go on. I need it. You need. ESPN needs it. Thus, the whole thing will take place virtually, like one big intense Zoom party. The league announced the 58 players who accepted the Zoom invite, if you will, which includes three former Ohio State players: Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and J.K. Dobbins. All three are likely to go in the first round, with Young and Okudah almost definitely going in the top 10.

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Like Smith, Ryan Day also did an interview this morning. His was with ESPN’s “Get Up” and basically all you need to take away from said interview is the state of his quarantine beard.

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Can confirm.

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From around the hardwood...

Former Ohio State freshman Alonzo Gaffney enters transfer portal

Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

While it was rumored that freshman forward Alonzo Gaffney left Ohio State to go pro, Gaffney, in fact, put his name in the NCAA’s transfer portal. 247Sports’ basketball director of recruiting Evan Daniels tweeted that Gaffney had “been trying his hand at the professional route” but had entered the portal.

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Ohio State basketball needs your vote to help them advance in FOX College Hoops’ Ultimate Fan Bracket! If we win this one, we will be 2x Undisputed National Champions.** It’s math.

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Everywhere else...

XFL suspends operations, lays off employees and has no plans for 2021 season

Kevin Seifert and Field Yates, ESPN

The XFL, which was just beginning to take off, suspended operations and laid off almost all of its staff except for a few executives. They have no plans to return in 2021. Gone but never forgotten.

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31 of 70 Ohio State spring sports seniors returning for an additional year of eligibility

Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Gene Smith said Friday that nearly half of the spring sports athletes who were granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA have opted to return to campus next year. Ohio State was one of the first schools to commit to providing the same level of financial aid to seniors who wanted to return. A no-brainer decision, no? You’d think.

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One at 2 a.m. Four at 10 a.m. Eight at 6 p.m.