Ohio State Football Coach Ryan Day Tests Positive For Coronavirus

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio State assistant head football coach Larry Johnson will serve as interim head coach of the Buckeyes Saturday against the University of Illinois after head coach Ryan Day tested positive for COVID-19.

The university shared an update Friday ahead of Saturday's game, which will be held at 12 p.m. eastern in Champaign, Illinois.

Day is in isolation and will not travel to Illinois or coach the team this week, according to the update.

According to the announcement, the team completed a round of point of contact (POC) daily testing Friday morning and will also undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing Friday afternoon to ensure everyone on the trip is confirmed negative, officials said.

"I have spoken with Coach Day and he is doing well physically," said Gene Smith, director of athletics. "I feel terrible for Coach and for the members of the program who have been diagnosed with a positive test."

The Department of Athletics also confirmed an increased number of positive tests this week for the coronavirus, but the increased number does not reach the threshold for Ohio State to have to cancel this week's game.

"Our team wants to play this game and we're going to do everything we can to help make this happen," Smith said. "All of the decisions on the welfare of our student-athletes and staff members will continue to be guided by our medical staff."