By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer, and staff
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten is going to give fall football a shot after all.
Less than five weeks after the conference announced it would push football and other fall sports to spring because of the pandemic, the conference changed course.
The Big Ten plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 24 with an eight-game schedule for each team.
https://twitter.com/PresKMJohnson/status/1306225036467073027
The Big Ten says its Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to restart sports.
Back in August, the conference voted to postpone fall sports.
“Today is a really good day for our football program, and especially for our players and their families…I want to thank the state of Ohio and Buckeye Nation for the unwavering support that means so much to us. I am thrilled our fans will get a chance to see what I see every day, a team that will represent them on and off the field in the best way possible.” -OSU head football coach Ryan Day.
Teams would play eight regular-season games over eight weeks with the Big Ten Championship Game scheduled for Dec. 19. Consolation games would also be scheduled with teams placing second- through seventh-place in the East and West divisions also matching up during the weekend of Dec. 18- 19, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said. He believes the College Football Playoff Committee could consider the conference champion for a spot in the playoff.
Public tickets will not be sold for the games, according to the Big Ten.
The announcement was accompanied by an outline of medical protocols, including daily antigen testing for COVID-19 and enhanced cardiac screening to assess possible long-term heart issues related to the coronavirus.
The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) adopted significant medical protocols and has voted unanimously to resume the football season starting the weekend of October 23-24, 2020: https://t.co/b5yHShGb1D
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 16, 2020
“Our focus with the [Return To Competition] Task Force…was to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes. Our goal has always been to return to competition so all student-athletes can realize their dream of competing in the sports they love,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren.
Beginning Sept. 30, player, coaches, trainers and anyone else on the field for practices and games will be required to undergo daily antigen testing, which must be completed and recorded prior to each practice or game.
Antigen tests look for proteins on the surface of the coronavirus and aren’t as accurate as the more common nasal swab test but are cheaper and faster
Players who test positive for the coronavirus would undergo a second test to confirm the result.
Conference officials said all sports will require testing protocols before they can resume competition.
Updates regarding fall sports other than football — as well as winter sports that begin in the fall including men’s and women’s basketball — will be announced at a later date.