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Big Ten Announces Conference-Only Schedules For All Fall Sports, Including Football

The Big Ten Conference has announced a fall athletics schedule that mandates all 14 league members will only play conference games.

Matthew Stevens

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference has announced its 14 member schools will only play games within its own league for all of the 2020 fall sports. 

Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic was the first to report this news. 

Multiple news outlets reported league officials would be announcing a football schedule that excludes all non-conference games for Big Ten schools. Less than an hour after reports surfaced, the conference released a statement confirming its conference-only scheduling approach for all fall sports in 2020. 

"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," the league statement reads. "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."

This announcement will come less than 24 hours after the Ivy League announced they will be postponing all its upcoming fall sports due to health and safety concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. 

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The one interesting line in the statement released by the Big Ten Conference, which hasn't gone unnoticed by the media and general public is the opening paragraph that stresses "that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports", acknowledging the consistent nervousness of having any fall sports due to the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. 

Illinois was slated to open its 2020 schedule with a trio of home non-conference games against Illinois State, Connecticut and Bowling Green before being slated to open Big Ten play at Rutgers on Oct. 3. The Illini were also slated to open its 2020 campaign on Big Ten Network on a Friday night, Sept. 4, to host in-state Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Illinois State.

The University of Illinois athletics department released a statement on the matter shortly after the conference office made the announcement. 

"As we hope you are, those of us with the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics are encouraged by today's announcement from the Big Ten Conference regarding plans to resume sports competitions during the coming fall. Health and safety of our students, coaches and staff, and fans remain the first and foremost priority of both the Big Ten and our University, and as the conference made clear today, we will not hesitate to suspend, delay, or cancel competition should such a decision be dictated by community health concerns. The Big Ten released initial plans for fall sports, announcing that they will compete against only Big Ten Conference opponents. In addition, the Big Ten reiterated that for all member schools during this summer and upcoming academic year, participation in sports by our students is voluntary and scholarships and financial aid are protected for all student-athletes regardless of their participation. Following today's announcement that fall sports will compete against only Big Ten Conference opponents, we anticipate a flurry of questions from fans, ticket holders, donors and others regarding the implications of that announcement for football, volleyball, soccer, and cross country at the University of Illinois. Many of these questions do not yet have answers because there are still many pending decisions regarding length of season, opponents, home and away schedule dates, ticket prices and more. As soon as more information becomes available, we will share it broadly using all communication methods. We understand the lack of answers creates an inconvenience for our fans and we appreciate their patience during these unprecedented times."

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Matthew Stevens
MATTHEW STEVENS

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