As FBS conferences agree to keep intra-conference schedules in light of #CoronaSZN, the Big Ten has been the most confusing conference. Will they or won’t they play this Fall? This is a timeline of what has been a big mess in the Big Ten.
March-April
The NCAA announces the cancelation of the Winter sports season with tournaments such as March Madness and the Frozen Four. Many state governments locked down and sent students home to complete their studies for the year. Therefore, Spring football practices did not occur.
May-July
As the curve flattened in several states, COVID cases increased in primarily Southern states that are college football hubs. This includes Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Due to the spread, the NCAA begins to explore the idea of either canceling or postponing Fall sports, including football.
August 5
August 5 is when the Big Ten’s mess and it starts with the announcement of their intraconference schedule.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe football schedule starts as early as the weekend of Sept. 5 with final games slated for Nov. 21 to align with academic calendars. The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium, though it could be moved as late as Dec. 19. pic.twitter.com/vWp3OSifBc
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 5, 2020
August 11
Six days later, the conference pivots and announces the postponement of the football season to the Spring. Several conferences followed suit. Nebraska head coach Scott Frost was the most defiant after the announcement and stated that the Cornhuskers would play anyway. In response, commissioner Kevin Warren basically threatened to throw Nebraska out of the conference.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsCan Nebraska play football this fall? “Not and be a member of the Big Ten Conference,” Commissioner Kevin Warren told @YahooSports. Column on a wild 72 hours of rogue pipe dreams, Big Ten politicking and the death of unanimous conference voting. https://t.co/ArUa6foy1L
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 12, 2020
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields starts a petition to reinstate the season in the Big Ten. As of this writing, the petition has reached over 300,000 signatures.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis cause is close to my heart – please sign: https://t.co/yFKlYE7pP0
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) August 16, 2020
August 19
The conference shares an open letter on their website citing reasons for their postponement. Additionally, the conference announces a new task force exploring the return of all Fall sports to competition.
August 26
The Columbus Dispatch learns through various sources that the Big Ten has explored holding a Winter football season in domed stadiums. Some sites being considered are Ford Field, Lucas Oil Stadium, The Dome at America’s Center, US Bank Stadium, and possibly the Carrier Dome. Expressing his support was Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who based his support on longer recovery time to the following Fall season. The idea of starting the season on Thanksgiving weekend is also thrown around.
August 27
Eight players from the University of Nebraska file a lawsuit against the Big Ten Conference. If you really want to, you can read the 14-page document here.
August 31
Four days after the lawsuit, the Big Ten released the results of the vote, which was 11-3. The three schools that dissented were the University of Iowa, the University of Nebraska, and Ohio State University. From a 10,000-foot perspective, the vote seemed to be based on which of these schools have stricter COVID policies. Of the 11, nine are based in states with these policies: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
September 1
President Donald Trump tweets that he spoke with Warren on the possibility of the conference playing this season.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHad a very productive conversation with Kevin Warren, Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, about immediately starting up Big Ten football. Would be good (great!) for everyone – Players, Fans, Country. On the one yard line!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020
That afternoon, the Dan Patrick Show tweets according to a source, the Big Ten’s football season could start on October 10.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“From source: If conference can pass updated safety measures and procedures, Big Ten targeting Oct. 10 to start football season.” – Dan Patrick
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) September 1, 2020
Rumors swirl that there could be a vote on September 4 to start the season on October 10. However, those rumors were extinguished.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsMultiple sources: No immediate plan for @bigten presidents to meet to consider fall start to season. One source, “Oct 10 ain’t happening.”
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) September 3, 2020
Let’s Wrap This Up
The past month has been a whirlwind of errors for the Big Ten Conference. I feel badly the most for the students who want to play. Should the conference have allowed an opt-out for programs and allow them to play anyway? Absolutely. Ultimately, the Big Ten mess lies at the feet of the presidents and chancellors of their member schools. If players want to play and fans want to watch their favorite school play this season, they need to put the onus on the presidents and chancellors to reverse their decision. Otherwise, ‘Rona claims yet another victim in the sports world.
Want more college football content? Click here for my realignment ideas. As always, leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter (@WhoIsRyanMcC) to discuss this Big Ten mess some more.
