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Are you in the right headspace to receive this information? Well, if not, close this article immediately. According to an article from the Detroit Free Press the Big Ten Conference has voted to cancel the 2020 college football season due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. It appears the Detroit Free Press has confirmed with multiple sources, and that a formal announcement is expected on Tuesday.
Earlier this morning Dan Patrick said on his radio show that the presidents from each school had taken a vote, with 12 of the 14 members voting to cancel the 2020 football season. Iowa and Nebraska, reportedly, we’re the two members that voted to play.
Dan Patrick reports Big Ten had internal vote & by 12-2 margin, league members opted on not having a fall football season. Nebraska & Iowa were only schools that voted to play this fall, @dpshow said. Patrick said Big Ten & Pac-12 would cancel fall seasons Tuesday
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 10, 2020
Of course these are all sources, and anonymous ones at that, so nothing will be official until we hear from the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren. However, these are pretty big claims to be making and I would venture to guess the info is pretty concrete if you are reporting something of this magnitude.
As for conferences outside the Big Ten, it appears the PAC 12 has also discussed that they will cancel football for their conference with a similar statement coming Tuesday. The SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all appear to be in a holding pattern as they try to delay and come up with a contingent plan.
So what’s next? Honestly, for the first time, I have no idea. This news story has been like a wave coming out at sea and we have all been standing at the shore waiting for it to creep in. It appears the wave is beginning to swell, and by all accounts is about to crash. It sucks. It just bleeping sucks. I really have no way to sugarcoat this one. Of course we will have more info as more news comes out.
UPDATE: Monday, August 10th, 12:17 p.m. CST
According to multiple tweets from multiple reporters, there hasn’t been any decision made on whether or not the B1G will be playing football this year.
Just got a text from a Big Ten spokesman. "No vote has been held by our presidents and chancellors." Hence, the Big Ten watch continues.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 10, 2020
FWIW a top-level B!G source texted me: "No final decisions have been made."
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) August 10, 2020
But I think we all know where this is headed.
Most #B1G football programs are in a holding pattern as they await guidance from the league, sources say. Lot of meetings going on right now.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 10, 2020
As for the 12-2...I was told that had to due with a medical call with the Big Ten office and each school. Only Nebraska and Iowa's medical officials said they were currently comfortable with everything at this time.
— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) August 10, 2020
As always...we’ll keep you posted.
UPDATE x2: Monday, August 10th, 5:06 p.m. CST
Perhaps some momentum shifting to delaying the start of the season as opposed to cancelling it outright, according to Kirk Herbstreit.
To be clear regarding @B1Gfootball and their impending announcement-they are looking TO DELAY the start of the season NOT TO CANCEL.
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 10, 2020
A couple of B1G coaches have also expressed their interest in playing football this season regardless of if it is in the B1G or not.
Sure sounds like from the top of the University to the players, Ohio State wants to see some kind of a season happen. And Ryan Day is open to that happening in any conference that would have them.
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 10, 2020
Frost opens the door for pursuing an independent schedule: "We want to play a Big Ten schedule. I think our University is committed to playing football regardless of what anyone else does."
— Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG) August 10, 2020