Why Ohio State is moving Senior Day from Michigan to its opener

Think of it as a welcome to the season, not a thank you for a career.

That might be the best way to look at Ohio State’s decision to move Senior Day from the final home game of the year – against Michigan in even-numbered years like this one – to the season-opener against Ball State.

These days in college football, tradition doesn’t mean much. It can be hard to keep up with all the changes that have transformed its landscape.

Moving Senior Day to the opener is hardly ground-shaking news, but it is a significant one.

Why did Ohio State do it?

For one thing, the Buckeyes want to make the Michigan game solely about The Game on the field. Jogging onto the field, getting a hug from Ryan Day, and then greeting parents was a momentary distraction for players on the biggest game of the season, albeit one they cherished.

Day talked with players this summer about the potential change of Senior Day, and they were in favor of it, I’m told.

“We weren’t going to do this without talking to them,” a source said. “The seniors were like, ‘Great idea. We can keep the focus on the season.’”