Our plan was to drive down and get him for the few times he will be coming home during the school year. This particular week is an issue because the time period is so short.
We made the mistake of booking airfare for Thanksgiving for our rising freshman son before we realized the Michigan game was that Saturday. His flight leaves Tues and returns Sunday. We are not sure what we are going to do but he definitely wants to be back on campus Saturday for the game.
A friend whose daughter is a rising junior had an awful time coming home to outside Philly on her first Thanksgiving via Greyhound. The bus actually got physically stuck in a not so great neighborhood while trying to turn a corner (downhill road turning into uphill road or something like that).
Yes my son wants to be back for the game too. I’m glad the game was mentioned here because I almost booked a flight coming back on Sunday as well. Still trying to figure out what to do. His class on Tuesday doesn’t get out until 9:30 at night so he won’t even be able to leave until Wednesday. Hoping the professor would cancel the class. It doesn’t look like game time has been announced so not sure what time he would have to be back on Saturday.
I checked last four years and, if I recall, all were noon games, whether in Columbus or Ann Arbor. Based on that, our son is flying back Friday night (substantially cheaper too).
Ohio State/Michigan games have been played at noon for at least 20 years other than in 2006 when it was #1 versus #2 (3:30 kickoff that year). Traditionally, OSU/Michigan played at noon and USC/UCLA played at 3:30 with each winner often going to the Rose Bowl. And allow for extra time to get back to campus that day because it typically is a crazy day in terms of traffic.
Port Columbus is not a very big airport. There are not a lot of direct flights other than to hub cities.
Ride boards/social media would likely be the best option. A lot of kids from NY state who would be looking to go home for Thanksgiving (and other breaks).
Thanks for the info. On game time. Almost booked a flight returning at 11:00 on Saturday which won’t work if game is at noon.
A coworker with a junior at OSU just told me about a bus service organized by Ohio State to get students to a few cities for Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks. I think this was something they started last year. So far they only serve cities in Ohio and PA (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) but hopefully they will expand this. Perhaps those with kids in other states like NY could inquire about offering this service to other cities. See attached link for more details.
Just saw this today. Thank you for posting. I had seen this on Facebook and currently that bus service is only going to the cities you mentioned. I emailed the coordinator but they never responded to me so I may try to contact somebody else.
I emailed the coordinator as well as I was wondering if the trip schedule for Thanksgiving break would change this year given they play Michigan at home but haven’t heard anything.
I just received the parent newsletter and the trip still only going to the same places as last year. Looks like bus won’t return until Sunday of thanksgiving break. I can’t understand why they won’t respond to inquiries. Frustrating. My son is taking greyhound bus home Tuesday 6 pm and arriving in Syracuse 6 am. Then leaves Friday at noon returning to campus around 10:30. $200. Yuck!
We just paid a $227 change fee on top of the $426 purchase price of my son’s airline ticket so that he can fly back to Columbus on Friday night instead of Sunday night. Since he will be home for only 3 days e are paying about $220 per day for the pleasure of his company over Thanksgiving break 
Live and learn and now we know to pay attention to the football schedule before making flight arrangements.
Ughh! Well at least the Michigan game is away next year so the pleasure of their company will be a little longer