Ohio State may allow more fans at games

Announcement comes after Big Ten lifts its attendance restrictions.

Ohio State could have a few more fans in the stands to watch sports this spring — including the spring football game.

The school announced Wednesday it will work with Columbus Public Health to develop policies to allow for expanded attendance at home venues.

That can be done after the Big Ten lifted its restrictions on conference schools hosting fans.

“In response to the Big Ten Conference announcement today regarding attendance policies at home athletics events for its member schools, the Ohio State Department of Athletics will work internally and with Columbus Public Health to formalize appropriate attendance figures, mapping and social distancing within our athletics venues and facilities,” OSU said in a release.

Only family members of players and coaches have been allowed at Big Ten sporting events on campus since the conference lifted a postponement of all sporting events last fall.

Ohio State announced 1,344 were in attendance for its football season opener against Nebraska on Oct. 24, though that figure includes everyone in the stadium, including players, coaches and members of the media (among others).

After 1,275 were in the stadium for the game against Rutgers two weeks later, no spectators were allowed to attend the Nov. 21 game against Indiana as a result of an order from the local health departments for Columbus and Franklin County. That decision stemmed from rising COVID-19 case numbers at the time, and that turned out to be the final home football game of 2020 for the Buckeyes as the scheduled season finale against Michigan was canceled because of an outbreak in the Wolverines program.

Ohio State’s spring football game is tentatively scheduled for April 17, but the format has not been determined.

The Buckeyes could

Fans hold a