According to the Detroit Free Press, the Big Ten elected to cancel all fall sports in 2020, that including the college football season.
The Big Ten has voted to cancel the 2020 college football season in a historic move that stems from concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, multiple people with knowledge of the decision confirmed to the Free Press.
The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the decision. A formal announcement is expected to Tuesday, the sources said.
The presidents voted, 12-2, Sunday to end the fall sports in the conference.
ESPN college football insider Kirk Herbstreit cleared up reports coming out Monday by saying the conference will be delaying the season start, not cancelling it completely.
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
With news of a Power 5 conference halting the start of the 2020 season, it has felt as though the remaining four (SEC, ACC, PAC-12, Big 12) would soon follow. Now, that might not be the case.
SEC leaders, who like the Big Ten leaders also met over a digital conference call on Monday, seemed to have a more positive outlook on the season starting up.
Commissioner of the SEC, Greg Sankey, released an optimistic statement via Twitter on Monday saying: “Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying.”
…Deveoped testing protocols…We know concerns remain. We have never had a FB season in a COVID-19 environment. Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying. We support, educate and care for student-athletes every day, and will continue to do so…every day.
— Greg Sankey (@GregSankey) August 10, 2020
“I’ll just say I think Greg Sankey’s comment is spot on,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Monday. “His statement says it all, and I certainly stand by it. It summarizes where we all stand.”
Georgia athletic employees made their return to the offices this Monday, still set for the delayed 10-game start date of September 26th. Reports seem as though the ACC and SEC will work together in doing everything in their power to have a season in 2020. A number of the two conferences biggest stars, including Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence, took to their platforms saying they want to play.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence is among several college football players expressing their concerns if there isn't a 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/tOoA5jRxxA
— ESPN (@espn) August 10, 2020
Lawrence hit on the fact that America is already not following COVID-19 guidelines, as well as many student athletes “coming from situations that are not good for them/their future and having to go back to that.”
“…Medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they were to contract COVID-19.” said Lawrence. “…Football is a safe haven for so many people.”
The University of Georgia is set to return to in-person instruction starting August 20th. Nothing is set in stone for the remaining Power 5 conferences, but there will be a lot of news released in the upcoming weeks regarding the fate of the 2020 college football season.