Big Ten college football to resume from 23 October
The Big Ten Conference’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors has voted to begin the 2020 college football season on 23 October.
The conference, mainly covering the Midwest region, last month opted to suspend all fall sports, with the West Coast-based Pac-12 Conference soon following suit.
However, the remaining three “Power Five” conferences, plus four other Football Bowl Subdivision conferences opted to play slightly shortened seasons instead, with most beginning the season last Saturday (12 September).
The Big Ten said that improvements in testing and information now mean it will be possible for it to also play this Fall.
“The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors adopted significant medical protocols including daily antigen testing, enhanced cardiac screening and an enhanced data-driven approach when making decisions about practice/competition,” the conference said.
Players will undergo daily testing and team test positivity rate and population positivity rate thresholds will be used to determine plans going forward, with a chief information officer for each university to be appointed to oversee this.