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7/9/2020 3:59:00 PM
Big Ten Statement on 2020-21 Fall Season


We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority.

To that end, the Big Ten Conference announced today that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to Conference-only schedules in those sports. Details for these sports will be released at a later date, while decisions on sports not listed above will continue to be evaluated. By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic.

This decision was made following many thoughtful conversations over several months between the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Directors of Athletics, Conference Office staff, and medical experts including the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee.

In addition, the Conference announced that summer athletic activities will continue to be voluntary in all sports currently permitted to engage in such activities. Furthermore, Big Ten student-athletes who choose not to participate in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the summer and/or the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarship honored by their institution and will remain in good standing with their team.

While Big Ten member institutions continue to rely on the most up-to-date medical information to establish the best protocols for voluntary workouts on their campuses, in compliance with local and state regulations, the Conference is working with the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee to finalize Conference-wide protocols.

As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts, we are also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.

Bummer dude

How is that FBS Independence working out for Notre Dame?

I have heard rumors they may do 10 conference games, and that regional stuff would matter.  So Penn State is unlikely to play Nebraska, but almost guaranteed to play Rutger, Maryland, OSU, etc.

I have heard rumors they may do 10 conference games, and that regional stuff would matter.  So Penn State is unlikely to play Nebraska, but almost guaranteed to play Rutger, Maryland, OSU, etc.

The thing is, I don't know how that regionalization would work in practice.  When you start out it is pretty obvious that the three eastern-most schools (RU, UMD, PSU) and the three Westernmost schools (MN, IA, UNL) should miss each other.  It makes sense that far.  So, for example, PSU would play:

• Rutgers
• Maryland
• Ohio State
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Indiana
• Purdue
• Illinois
• Northwestern
• Wisconsin

Similarly, Nebraska would play:

• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Wisconsin
• Northwestern
• Illinois
• Purdue
• Indiana
• Michigan State
• Michigan
• Ohio State

Fine, but who do the central schools miss?  By this logic all of the following schools are forced to play BOTH the three eastern-most schools (RU, UMD, PSU) AND the three western-most schools (MN, IA, UNL):

• Ohio State
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Indiana
• Purdue
• Illinois
• Northwestern
• Wisconsin

Who do they miss?  They'd have to miss some three of each other but that seems odd because the other seven schools on the list are the ones close to them.  I'll also point out that this is REALLY ridiculous for the fourth eastern-most (tOSU) and fourth western-most (UW) schools because they are forced to play all three of the schools farthest away from them (RU, UMD, PSU for UW; UNL, MN, IA for tOSU).  

Also, if we are only playing conference games then why only 10?  Why not play 12 so that each team just misses one league member or get a waiver from the NCAA and play a 13-game round-robin since you probably aren't playing bowls anyway?  

ACC is going to accomodate them. 

What about Army, BYU, etc?

f'in sucks but let's be real here it's better than nothing.

They're just slowly preparing us for what will be nothing. Now it's only conference games. Next it will be only divisional games. Then it will be 3 games, against bitter rivals only. Then...

2021.

God I hope you’re wrong. 

But I think you are right. 

On the radio they said that they will play all of the divisional games first, so that if one of those games has to be rescheduled then they can bump a crossover game off of the docket.