Tag: big ten return to play

Can Graham Mertz play this Saturday?

The answer to every Badger fans biggest question at the moment

With news this morning that Wisconsin football is trending towards playing against Michigan this weekend, the next big question at the front of all Badgers fans minds is can starting QB Graham Mertz play?

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The redshirt-freshman QB initially tested positive for COVID-19 on October 24 per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the Big Ten has a strict 21-day policy for returning to play. With Mertz’s first test coming on October 24, this Friday, November 13, would be his 21st day in conference protocol. UW has not confirmed this timeline, but if the initial report about when Mertz tested positive is true it would hold up. He would be eligible to play in games starting then, and would be eligible to play in this Saturday’s Michigan game. Would that be likely without any practice time? Turns out Mertz can be on the field before Friday.

Per Big Ten protocol, if the Kansas native is cleared by a school cardiologist he can begin an “activity progression” 15 days after his initial positive, which would have been yesterday, November 8. If each step of this progression is cleared by a team physician, Mertz can be back at practice this Wednesday through Friday in preparation for the Wolverines.

Fall Big Ten return not yet off the table as medical subcommittee presents to conference

The Big Ten presidents will hear new medical information this afternoon

With the first full day of college football upon us, not all hope is lost surrounding the Big Ten playing this fall. Today, according to Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, the medical subcommittee of the Big Ten conference will present new testing programs to presidents and chancellors.

According to the ESPN report, eight of the 14 presidents and chancellors will be in attendance and the presentation will center around rapid response tests that could be used in Big Ten college football this fall.

A conference source reportedly told ESPN that the medical situation is “light years different than it was five weeks ago.”

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez is leading the return to competition task force alongside Penn State AD Sandy Barbous and Northwestern AD Jim Phillips. The ball is still in the presidents and chancellors court as we await another possible vote. Will they vote, when will they vote, how will they vote? These are questions that still lack answers, but there is renewed hope given recent medical advancements.