SPORTS

Ohio State football linebacker Cody Simon to be available at Michigan

Joey Kaufman
The Columbus Dispatch

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Starting middle linebacker Cody Simon was sidelined during the first quarter of Ohio State’s 56-7 trouncing of Michigan State last week and did not return.

But he will be back as the Buckeyes meet Michigan in the 117th renewal of their rivalry on Saturday afternoon, a presence that will help them against the Wolverines’ run-heavy offense. Simon was not listed as unavailable on the team’s official pregame status report released a little more than an hour ahead of kickoff.

Simon’s prognosis had been unclear during the week as coach Ryan Day said only that his undisclosed injury did not look long-term. Early in the season, he said he was receiving treatment on his shoulder and has continued to wear a brace underneath his pads during games.

Entering the final weekend of the regular season, the sophomore is the Buckeyes’ second-leading tackler with 47.

Cornerback Denzel Burke, who was also banged up early against the Spartans, is available, along with fellow freshman and kick returner Emeka Egbuka, who sat out last Saturday.

But the Buckeyes have a season-high 19 players who are unavailable at Michigan, including cornerback Sevyn Banks, linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, cornerback Demario McCall, quarterback Jack Miller and running back Master Teague.

Banks, who has started most of this season at the outside corner spot opposite Burke, is missing his second consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. Cameron Brown started in his place against Michigan State.

Teague has been in and out of the lineup for the second half of the season. Since an idle week in mid-October, he’s been available for only two games, but he rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries last week.

Gaoteote is out for the second straight week, while McCall and Miller are additions to the status report.

Miller was back with the Buckeyes last week after he was reinstated following a two-week suspension for an arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while impaired. 

Walk-on linebacker Cade Kacherski and tight end Gee Scott Jr. are also sidelined. 

The College Football Playoff schedule

Here are the dates to know for the College Football Playoff: 

  • Selection show: Noon Dec. 5 on ESPN
  • Cotton Bowl: 3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN
  • Orange Bowl:  3:30 or 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 on ESPN
  • College Football Playoff national championship game: 8 p.m., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 on ESPN

Week 13 College Football Playoff rankings

  1. Georgia 11-0
  2. Ohio State 10-1
  3. Alabama 10-1
  4. Cincinnati 11-0
  5. Michigan 10-1
  6. Notre Dame 10-1
  7. Oklahoma State 10-1
  8. Baylor 9-2
  9. Ole Miss 9-2
  10. Oklahoma 10-1
  11. Oregon 9-2
  12. Michigan State 9-2
  13. BYU 9-2
  14. Wisconsin 8-3
  15. Texas A&M 8-3
  16. Iowa 9-2
  17. Pittsburgh 9-2
  18. Wake Forest 9-2
  19. Utah 8-3
  20. NC State 8-3
  21. San Diego State 10-1
  22. UTSA 11-0
  23. Clemson 8-3
  24. Houston 10-1
  25. Arkansas 7-4

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at jkaufman@dispatch.com or on Twitter @joeyrkaufman.