Ohio State football: Buckeyes to open 2021 season on Thursday night vs. Big Ten foe

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Clemson Tigers in the first half during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The 2021 Ohio State football season just got a little bit closer.

The Buckeyes are set to open that campaign Sept. 2, 2021, at Minnesota, a Thursday night and two days earlier than originally planned.

Moving the game up allows both teams to begin preseason practice earlier and in effect gives them an extra mini-bye.

That means the Buckeyes will have an extra two days to prepare for a visit from Oregon that could pit a pair of top 10 teams.

On the other hand, this is not great news for Miami — the RedHawks are Minnesota’s Week 2 opponent in 2021.

Ohio State last opened on a Thursday in 2017 when the Buckeyes downed Indiana 49-21 in Bloomington.

That is also the only time since 1977 Ohio State started the season with a Big Ten opponent.

Ohio State began the 2010 season at home on a Thursday night with a 45-7 win over Marshall and in 1997 with a 24-10 win over Wyoming.

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