COLUMBUS – The 2020 high school football season begins this weekend, under COVID-19 pandemic rules, with games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
CW Columbus 2020 Honda Thursday Night Lights Schedule
The state has required host schools to limit attendance at football games to 1,500 spectators or 15% of their stadium maximum fixed-seating capacity but Gov. Mike DeWine says the can apply for a variance if their stadium is too small to allow for families of players to be there.
“We want our young people to play sports for all the reason that we know sports are important. We want families to be able to be there to support them, but we also want to minimize the spread” of the coronavirus, DeWine said.
Schools may request a higher spectator limit by submitting a plan in writing to their local health department and the state.
Under rules released by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, schools may keep their first six previously scheduled games but can void contracts for any other games to accommodate conference opponents during the first six weeks.
All teams will qualify for the playoffs beginning Oct. 9 and the state championship games will be played no later than No. 21.
Schools that are eliminated from the playoffs may continue to schedule regular-season games up until Nov. 14.