COLUMBUS – The rumor mill surrounding the possible return of Big Ten football was in overdrive Tuesday.
Conference leaders are reconsidering a fall season after a weekend of meetings about a plan to begin play as soon as mid-October but University of Nebraska president Walter Carter set off a storm of activity when he told someone “We’re getting ready to announce the Huskers and Big Ten football tonight,” unaware he was in front of a hot mic at a press conference.
The University of Wisconsin’s chancellor would not predict which way a vote would go. Rebecca Blank told a Senate panel Big Ten football will remain on hold until there are answers to questions about COVID-19 testing and tracing, along with possible long-term heart issues related to the coronavirus and — once university leaders have their questions and concerns addressed — “we will try to plan a delayed season.”
Additional reports claimed the conference was considering an 8-game season, beginning in mid-October, with the top teams from each division meeting in a conference championship game.