COLUMBUS – Always a red-letter day on the spring calendar in Columbus, the Ohio State spring intrasquad scrimmage is expected to draw about 50,000 fans to Ohio Stadium Saturday, though that is probably a lowball estimate.
The LiFEsports Spring Game, presented by Union Home Mortgage kicks off at 12:05 p.m.
A forecast for nice weather, a competitive battle for the starting quarterback job and the debut of a highly-touted running back tandem will make the Buckeyes worth watching.
For those who can’t make it to the game, it will be broadcast live on Fox, the first college spring game to be aired live on a broadcast network. Jason Benetti, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and Dublin Coffman alum Brady Quinn, who played quarterback at Notre Dame and in the NFL, will be in the booth.
The first three quarters will be 12-15 minutes in length with play clock stoppage in effect. The fourth quarter will be a 10-minute victory lap with a running clock. Halftime will be 10 minutes.
The format will be an offense-vs.-defense scrimmage. Offensive scoring will be traditional while the defense will be awarded six points for a touchdown off of a takeaway, three points for a takeaway, three points for a three-and-out, two points for a sack and one point for a forced punt (1 point).
Ohio State opens the regular season at home on Aug. 31 against Akron.