A popular Chase Young conspiracy theory has been debunked by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith.
Smith spoke to the media Wednesday after Young’s two-game suspension was handed down. At one point, he brought up a theory that had been floated by some, including FOX broadcaster Gus Johnson, suggesting that Maryland might have had something to do with the NCAA learning of the loan Young received.
That was not true, according to Smith, nor was it the doing of any other Big Ten rival.
“I want to be clear: The accusations did not come from Maryland, the accusations did not come from Penn State or anyone else in the Big Ten,” Smith said, via Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors.
Smith added that the violation was reported to Ohio State, not the NCAA, though he would not state whether it had been done anonymously.
Ultimately, it’s the end of an amusing, but unlikely theory. Even if it had been an effort on the part of a rival, it didn’t work at all. The Buckeyes beat Maryland without Young, and he’ll only sit out one more game now. That game is against Rutgers, so Ohio State will be heavy favorites. After that, they’ll have Young back for Penn State and Michigan, their two biggest games of the season.
