COLUMBUS — As you may or may not know, new Big Ten conference protocols no longer require programs to release a player availability report before nonconference games. Teams will have to submit them for conference games and now must submit four during the week, one per day, starting on Wednesday and continuing through two hours before kickoff on Saturday.
As such, we didn’t get a report for Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State, and we won’t get one before this week’s game at Texas.
The most noteworthy absence for the Buckeyes in the opener was transfer defensive end Qua Russaw. Russaw dressed and was on the sideline during the game, but never put on his helmet, and it never appeared there was a plan to put him in —usually a sign of a minor injury. It’s possible Russaw was held out as a precaution.
Ryan Day was asked on Tuesday about Russaw’s availability for the Texas game.
“We expect him to have a full week of practice,” Day said. “We’re looking forward to that.”