Due to a lack of officials, Loyola informed Ohio State on Thursday night that they will be forced to forfeit the originally scheduled Oct. 1 contest against the Buckeyes. The game is officially canceled and will not be rescheduled.
This is the third time in as many seasons that a team has forfeited a game, or an entire half of football, to Ohio State.
Per NCFA rules, home teams are required to provide officials and if officials are not present or cannot be scheduled in time for the contest, the game is deemed a forfeit win for the visiting team. Despite the game not being played, Ohio State will be awarded a 2-0 victory and will move to 3-0 for the fourth time in five seasons, dating back to 2016.
The Buckeyes started last season 0-2 with losses to NCAA JV teams at Mount Union and Denison before rattling off seven straight NCFA wins en route to winning the 2021 national title. Outside of the 2021 season, the last time Ohio State did not start a season 3-0 was 2015, when the Buckeyes started 2-1 on their way to a 3-3 finish.
Ohio State is scheduled to return to action on October 8, when the Buckeyes will travel to Wright State to take on the Raiders. Ohio State won both matchups against Wright State last season, winning 57-7 in the regular season finale and again 55-12 in the conference championship game. The Buckeyes have won their last eight matchups against Wright State and are 10-1 overall against the Raiders since 2012, with the lone loss coming in 2014.
Loyola, now 1-2 on the season, is scheduled to play at UW-Milwaukee next week.
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