All is not lost for the 2020 Badgers, even as Wisconsin football announced today that they are canceling the Purdue game due to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak. Wisconsin football currently has 27 cases, with 15 players and 12 staff members having tested positive in the past two weeks.
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The Badgers currently sit at 1-0, having played the Big Ten opener against Illinois just two weeks ago. It feels as though it has been years since we saw the brilliant debut of QB Graham Mertz and a dominant win over the Fighting Illini at Camp Randall. After a long two weeks for the program, which resulted in the cancellation of games against Nebraska and this Saturday’s game against Purdue, Wisconsin’s season is still alive.
According to Big Ten protocol, the Badgers need to get to six games in order to be eligible for the Big Ten championship game, unless the average number of regular-season games played by all conference teams falls below six. If the average falls below six, the minimum would then become two fewer games than the average.
So, how does Wisconsin get to six games? They play their remaining five on the schedule, starting with November 14 at Michigan. That obviously would require some luck. Remember, it is not only about the Badgers having to avoid any COVID-19 outbreaks, but also about their opponents avoiding an outbreak. If Wisconsin does get to six games, and ends up at 5-1 or better, all signs point to them heading to the Big Ten championship game, barring a 6-0 champion of the Big Ten West or a 5-1 team holding a tiebreaker over UW.
Wisconsin would also get Mertz back against the Wolverines if he recovers from COVID-19 and is cleared by a cardiologist.
The season may be teetering on the brink, but there is still hope for Badger football playing for championships in 2020.