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As the Ohio State Buckeyes face the Michigan Wolverines in a Big Ten Conference rivalry game, Jim Lachey will be absent from the team’s radio booth. Lachey, a former offensive lineman for Ohio State, will be attending senior day at Iowa University for his son, Luke, who serves as a captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Lachey’s absence will snap his streak of 357 consecutive game broadcasts for Ohio State amid his 28th season as a color commentator. Bob Carpenter, who is a co-host of Morning Juice on 97.1 The Fan with Brandon Beam and Mark Howell, will be filling in on the broadcast alongside play-by-play announcer Paul Keels. Coverage of the matchup, which takes place at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, begins at 6:30 a.m. EST on 97.1 The Fan.
“Obviously my heart pulls me both directions, but for the good of my family, I gotta go see Luke and be a parent for this weekend and get a chance to walk out there with my wife Ann and it’ll be Luke’s final [home game at Iowa] Friday night,” Lachey said during the Ohio State football postgame show last Saturday. “I wish it was a noon start [on Friday], but it’s not, it’s a night game against Nebraska. But I’m excited… It’s gonna be special. The whole family’s gonna be there. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
Lachey’s son is a senior tight end at Iowa University who is putting together a stellar campaign with 25 receptions and 218 yards. The team’s senior day game against Nebraska will be televised at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBC. Ohio State kicks off against Michigan at noon on Saturday and will air live on 97.1 The Fan and other radio stations across Ohio. FOX Sports is televising the matchup with play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, analyst Joel Klatt and sideline reporter Jenny Taft calling the action.
Lachey became a radio analyst for Ohio State Buckeyes football in the 1997 season after a collegiate football career that contributed to his being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. During his 11 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle, he won a Super Bowl championship with Washington and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In addition to his work during the live game broadcasts, Lachey is also the co-host of The Ryan Day Show and takes part in the Buckeye Roundtable, both of which air on 97.1 The Fan throughout the season.
