Like every other conference in college football last fall, the Big Ten was unable to play its full schedule due to games being canceled according to COVID-10 protocols. This fall, the Big Ten isn’t messing around with the schedule. If a team can’t play a game due to COVID concerns, then that team runs the risk of forfeiting their game.
In a statement released on Monday, the Big Ten outlined the decisions that will be made regarding games being canceled if a school cannot field a team due to COVID protocols. If a team is unable to play a game as a result of COVID issues, that team will forfeit their game. The game will go down as a loss for the team unable to play and a win for the opponent.
If both teams are unable to field a team due to COVID protocols, then the game will be ruled a no contest, with no wins or losses handed out to either team.
With the fate of the game decided, the Big Ten has also stated no games will be rescheduled to accommodate teams for missed games. The Big Ten’s decision is similar to decisions being made around the country on a conference by conference basis, and is one that has seemingly been spearheaded by the NFL.
Penn State was one of two Big Ten teams to manage to play all nine games on their amended Big Ten-only schedule in 2020. Rutgers was the only other school to play all nine scheduled games. Ohio State and Michigan each only managed to play six games, and Maryland was stuck on five games due to a team being unable to play a scheduled game last fall.
The new COVID cancellation policy will encourage schools to ensure their teams are as close to fully vaccinated as possible. In the meantime, regular testing and masking will still be strongly encouraged.
Here’s to a season that won’t have to deal with this policy.
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