Big Ten football season set to begin on Labor Day weekend

Big Ten released its 10-game conference-only football schedule beginning as early as Labor Day weekend but cautioned re is certainty games will be played.

Big Ten had anunced a month ago it would shorten season and eliminate nconference games because of coronavirus pandemic.

Under revised schedule, teams will play conference opponents y originally were set to meet and will have one additional cross-division game.

regular season starts weekend of Sept. 5 and runs through v. 21. v. 28 is a uniform open date. 10 games would be played over at least 12 weeks, with each team having two open dates, for a total of three. If necessary, makeup games can be played during bye weeks. If coronavirus situation dictates, season could start Sept. 12, 19 or 26.

Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis remains scheduled for Dec. 5 but could moved as late as Dec. 19.

conference will allow teams to begin preseason practices Friday, or earlier if a team’s season begins before Sept. 5.

Rutgers, Michigan State and rthwestern have shut down voluntary workouts because of COVID-19 outbreaks.

“In making this anuncement, Conference ackwledges that re is much work to be done on our campuses, in our communities and across country to gain control of a virus that continues to spread at an alarming rate,” conference said in a statement. “While Conference remains hopeful for a September 2020 start in all fall sports, including football, issuing a schedule does t guarantee that competition will occur. While our strategy is to continue planning for all fall sports, if virus continues to spread among our students despite our many preventative measures, including testing and quarantine protocols, we are also prepared to delay or cancel competition pursuant to local and state public health orders or recommendations of our medical experts.”

In addition to plans for 2020 football season, Big Ten competition start dates for men’s and women’s cross-country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball have been postponed through at least Sept. 5. Conference-only schedules for se sports will be released at a later date.

conference also released its medical policies and protocols for all sports on testing requirements, and quarantine and isolation. Testing will be mand by a third-party laboratory to ensure consistency across conference.

Testing frequency will be based on level of contact risk within each sport and is required for athletes, coaches and staff depending upon exposure to athletes.

Sports that have a high risk of contact will have a minimum of two tests per week during competitive season. All or sports will have a minimum of one test per week.

“Our institutions are committed to taking necessary measures to facilitate a safe return to campus for our students this fall,” said rthwestern president Morton Schapiro, chairman of Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors. “Since beginning of pandemic, we have prioritized health and safety of our students. ir welfare is paramount and remains at forefront of all of our decisions."