Going to Ohio State football 2023 spring game? Here's what you need to know before you go

Ohio State football's spring practice schedule is coming to an end.

Coming off an 11-2 season that ended with a last-second loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes are set to return to Ohio Stadium Saturday ahead of the start of the 2023 season Sept. 2 against Indiana.

This Ohio State team is set to look much different than the 2022 team.

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The Buckeyes will be without its Heisman finalist quarterback C.J. Stroud, while also having spots to fill for potential first-round NFL draft picks at each offensive tackle position for Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, and at wide receiver for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Here's what you need to know about Ohio State's spring game.

When is the Ohio State spring football game?

The 2023 LiFEsports Spring Game will kick off at noon Saturday, April 15 at Ohio Stadium

Who will call plays for Ohio State during the 2023 spring game?

Ahead of the 2023 season, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was promoted to offensive coordinator. And while head coach Ryan Day served as Ohio State's primary offensive play-caller in the past, he's experimenting with Hartline taking some of that responsibility.

“We’ll come up for air at the end of spring,” Day said in February, “and figure out what that dynamic looks like going into the preseason and the season. We won’t decide any of that now, but will certainly give him an opportunity to call it this spring.”

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Hartline has no experience as a primary play-caller, but Day hopes that the spring can give Hartline some needed experience.

“When are you really ready to call plays? I don’t know,” Day said. “When are you ready to be a parent? When are you ready to buy your first house? But you figure it out, you make mistakes and you learn. Now it’s time to really have an opportunity this spring and hopefully in the preseason to do those type of things.”

How will Ohio State football score the spring game?

Ohio State announced its scoring format for Saturday will be the same as the 2022 game.

Instead of two separate teams, Ohio State pitted its offense against its defense. The offense, wearing scarlet, scored as normal: touchdowns, extra points and field goals. The defense scored points in multiple ways:

• Touchdown: Six points (along with extra point)

• Takeaway: Three points

• Three-and-out: Three points

• Sack: Two points

• Forced punt: One point

Will Kyle McCord and Devin Brown play during 2023 Ohio State football spring game?

Only Kyle McCord will be available.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced Wednesday that Devin Brown would not play in the 2023 spring game after undergoing a minor procedure on his hand. Brown is battling with Kyle McCord over Stroud's starting quarterback position this fall.

In two seasons with the Buckeyes, McCord, a former five-star quarterback in the 2021 class, has completed 41 of his 58 pass attempts for 606 passing yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

During his freshman season in 2022, Brown, a former four-star, recorded one carry for one yard against Toledo, and did not attempt a pass.

Who will miss Ohio State football's spring game?

Ohio State will be without a few players that are expected to be major contributors in the fall.

Linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor, wide receivers Julian Fleming, Xavier Johnson and Emeka Egbuka, offensive lineman Jakob James, safety Kourt Williams II and defensive lineman Mitchell Melton will all be unavailable for the Buckeyes Saturday.

Day announced Wednesday Brown would not play during the spring game.

An updated unavailability list is expected Saturday ahead of kickoff.

Players to watch ahead of Ohio State 2023 spring game

• LB C.J. Hicks: With both Chambers and Eichenberg out during spring practice, C.J. Hicks, a former five-star linebacker out of Dayton, has had a lot of first-team reps and has played himself into consideration for the hybrid defensive end-linebacker "Jack" position this fall. Hicks should be in the middle of many plays during the Buckeyes' final scrimmage

• RBs Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden: Ohio State is set to have a full running back room in the fall with Henderson, Pryor and Miyan WIlliams back. And while Henderson and Pryor remain sidelined, Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden has shown off the Buckeyes' depth at running back. Expect both to be in the middle of much of the Buckeyes' offensive game plan during the spring game.

• WR Jayden Ballard: While Jayden Ballard had only eight catches for 155 yards and a touchdown last season, the redshirt sophomore wide receiver is fighting for a chance to make the same impact his 2021 classmates Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. have made.

• SAF Cameron Martinez: Who will take Tanner McCalister's spot at the nickel this fall? Many expect Syracuse transfer Ja'Had Carter to be at the top of the depth chart. But after an injury to Carter during the Student Appreciation Day practice, Cameron Martinez has taken over those first-team reps and picking up steam as spring continues for significant playing time in 2023.

Will the Ohio State spring game be on TV?

Yes. Ohio State's spring game will be televised on Big Ten Network starting at noon.

Will the Ohio State football spring game be streaming?

The Big Ten Network will stream the Ohio State spring game. It can be streamed on any platform that includes the Big Ten Network, such as Hulu Live and YouTube TV.

Will the Ohio State spring game be broadcast on the radio?

Yes. The Ohio State Sports Network from Learfield Sports will broadcast the game locally on 97.1 FM starting at 11:45 a.m.

Want to attend the 2023 Ohio State spring game? Here's how to get tickets.

Tickets for Ohio State's 2023 spring game are still on sale. General admission tickets on Ticketmaster are $7, while a limited number of reserved seating options are available for $15 and $30.

How to park at Ohio State spring football game

Parking is free for the Ohio State spring at day-of-game lots around Ohio Stadium. Shuttles to Ohio Stadium are also available for people who park in lots west of SR 315.

When does Ohio State football 2023 season start?

Here's what Ohio State's 2023 football schedule looks like.

• Sept. 2: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

• Sept. 9: Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Sept. 16: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Sept. 23: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

• Oct. 7: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Oct. 14: Ohio State vs. Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Oct. 21: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Oct. 28: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

• Nov. 4: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

• Nov. 11: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Nov. 18: Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Nov. 25: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What Ohio State football fans need to know about the 2023 spring game