Big Ten Releases Flexible 2020 Football Schedule, Testing Plans

ROSEMONT, IL — The Big Ten Conference released a tentative schedule Wednesday for a 10-game football season, while conceding the evolving coronavirus pandemic may prevent college sports from going ahead as planned this fall.

The flexible, 12-week schedule (below) would see the Big Ten become the first major college football conference to kick off the 2020 season next month, according to a statement issued by the conference. The first game is scheduled for Sept. 3, when Ohio State travels to Champaign to face the Fighting Illini.

Each team is set have two open dates to allow games to be rescheduled to bye weeks as needed, with a conference-wide bye week on Nov. 28 ahead of a championship game in Indianapolis — tentatively scheduled for Dec. 5 with the possibility of being moved as late as Dec. 19.

Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro, who chairs a conference council of school chiefs, said school and conference officials would make any adjustments necessary in response to the best available information and advice from public health experts. Students are set to return to Northwestern's campus on Sept. 6 with instructions to self-quarantine for two weeks upon their arrival.

“Our institutions are committed to taking the necessary measures to facilitate a safe return to campus for our students this fall,” Schapiro said in the statement. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have prioritized the health and safety of our students. Their welfare is paramount and remains at the forefront of all of our decisions."

The release of the football schedule was accompanied by an acknowledgment that conference officials are prepared to delay or cancel games based on public health orders or medical advice.

"Today’s announcement, though subject to local, state and federal public health guidelines, provides a path forward for Big Ten student-athletes to return to competition based on comprehensive, conference-wide medical policies and protocols established by the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee,” Schapiro said.

The task force has developed a series of medical protocols, including requirements for testing, quarantine and isolation. Testing will be managed by a third-party lab, with sample frequency based on the level of risk in a given sport. High-contact sports, like football, will be tested a minimum of twice a week during the competitive season, while other sports will have one test a week.

Kevin Warren, commissioner of the conference, said the Big Ten task force worked with local, state and national experts to develop the plan.

“Developing consistent medical protocols and testing procedures for the health and safety of our student-athletes and our athletic programs is critical,” Warren said. "With the knowledge we have today, providing potential options for all of our student-athletes was of the utmost importance to us, all while ensuring there is a process in place to incorporate student-athlete feedback. While a comprehensive plan has been developed, we also know it is essential to continue to be agile as new information and health trends become available and we will adjust accordingly.”

Big Ten officials have said its 14 universities will continue to honor sports scholarships awarded to students who opt out of athletics during the 2020-21 year due to concerns about COVID-19.

Earlier this week, Northwestern University became the sixth Big Ten football team to temporarily halt its preseason training in response to positive coronavirus tests. Athletics officials at the University of Illinois announced at least 18 football players had tested positive since early June. And an outbreak at Rutgers involving 28 players and staff reportedly delayed the release of the schedule by a day. Preseason practice with contact can begin on Friday under conference rules.

The University of Connecticut Wednesday became the first college to announce it was suspending the football program for the duration of the 2020 season.

Big Ten officials also postponed the release of schedules for cross country, field hockey, soccer and women's volleyball through Sept. 5 at the earliest.

2020 Northwestern Wildcats Football Schedule

Sept. 5 — Penn State (away)
Sept. 12 — Wisconsin (home)
Sept. 19 — Michigan State (away)
Sept. 26 — Maryland (home)
Oct. 3 — Iowa (away)
Oct. 10 — Bye week
Oct. 17 — Illinois (home)
Oct. 24 — Nebraska (home)
Oct. 31 — Purdue (away)
Nov. 7 — Bye week
Nov. 14 — Minnesota (away)
Nov. 21 — Michigan (home)

2020 Illinois Fighting Illini Football Schedule

Sept. 3 — Ohio State (home)
Sept. 12 — Nebraska (away)
Sept. 19 — Indiana (away)
Sept. 26 — Purdue (home)
Oct. 3 — Bye week
Oct. 10 — Iowa (home)
Oct. 17 — Northwestern (away)
Oct. 24 — Wisconsin (away)
Oct. 31 — Minnesota (home)
Nov. 7 — Rutgers (away)
Nov. 14 — Bye week
Nov. 21 — Penn State (home)

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