INDIANAPOLIS - The first time Ohio State football played Wisconsin in 2019, the rain forced Buckeyes center Josh Myers to find a new way to snap.
Myers remembers curling his pointer and middle finger over the tip of the football and flipping it back to quarterback Justin Fields.
The Buckeyes eventually pulled away for a 38-7 victory at Ohio Stadium back on Oct. 26. But the conditions played a role in Ohio State’s offensive issues early. Myers remembered two dropped passes directly attributed to the rain.
Such is life when playing football in the greater Midwest. That doesn’t mean the players enjoy the experience. One in particular tends to spoil Myers’ mood.
“The rain is not very fun,” Myers said. “It’s not very fun for quarterbacks and wide receivers and running backs, and even for me it makes a difference. Those balls can get pretty slick and it can slip our of your hand easier than you’d think.”
Several Buckeyes said they looked forward to playing in the climate-controlled setting of Lucas Oil Stadium for Saturday’s rematch with Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. The roof will be closed as temperatures outside drop into the low 30 during the second half.
Cold, rainy conditions have affected multiple Ohio State games down the stretch. Wind has also occasionally been a factor, most notably causing problems for Garrett Wilson on punt returns last week.
Those adverse conditions affect both teams equally, but can also be an equalizer. The Buckeyes looked forward to a clean, dry experience in Indianapolis.
'Without any elements, it gives us a chance to hold on to the ball a lot better, throw the ball a lot better, and be a little bit more dynamic," senior receiver Austin Mack said. “As in any case, I think we’re gonna do just fine. I think we’ll be able to score a lot of points. But as long as we handle our business and we play great defense we will do just fine.”
The Buckeyes could play in only indoor stadiums the rest of the way, with Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium and New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome scheduled to host the College Football Playoff games.
This is Ohio State’s first indoors game this season. It won twice indoors last season (Big Ten championship vs. Northwestern at Lucas Oil and vs. TCU at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium) and has won four straight in retractable or permanent roof stadiums dating back to a 2016 Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson.
While the climate controlled playing conditions in theory help both teams operate, Fields said Tuesday he was skeptical the Buckeyes will approach the games differently.
“I don’t think the indoor weather will really change our offense or how coach Day calls the plays," Fields said.
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