Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in an interview with Fox Radio that if the Big 10 refuses to change its stance on college football, Ohio State University (OSU) should sue.
Yost said that “it seems crazy,” that with so many other sports, including high school and amateur football being played that OSU will not be able to have a season.
The attorney general said if schools can opt-out of a season if they think “COVID is too big a threat.” However, he encouraged the Big 10 to allow schools interested in playing to have a season.
“I’m all about the kids, I wanna see them play… but let’s not forget that this is also business. There is money involved,” Yost said. “Lots of money.” He added that money “supports all of the other sports that don’t make any money.”
Yost said that the issue was simply from a legal standpoint “it comes down to contracts and torts.”
Yost said his team was in the process of collecting the necessary documents for a lawsuit against the Big 10, and even universities that violated their contracts by refusing to play, a sentiment he echoed on Twitter.
And the universities who are standing in the way could be defendants as well.
If Michigan, for example, thinks COVID warrants cancellation of the season, fine. Opt out.
But then get out of the way — or Ohio State’s losses could become yours. https://t.co/D0n6ltyec5
— Attorney General Dave Yost (@DaveYostOH) September 10, 2020
When asked about partnering with other states to sue the Big 10, Yost said “those conversations haven’t happened yet,” but hinted on Twitter that if Ohio State should sue, they might not be alone.
Some interesting conversations this morning. If we end up going to court on @bigten football, we may have some company.
— Attorney General Dave Yost (@DaveYostOH) September 10, 2020
So far Ohio State has made no statement as to whether it plans to sue the Big 10.
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Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. You can follow Ben on Twitter. Tips can be sent to [email protected].
