Big Ten goes to a conference-only schedule for fall sports, but will they play at all?
ROSEMONT, Ill. (BVM) — As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the country, the effect the virus is having on college athletics becomes greater and greater. After putting a halt to winter sports in March, including men’s and women’s basketball, the virus wiped out the entire spring sports season as schools shut down around the country.
At that point, with months to go before the fall sports season, there was little reason not to be optimistic college athletics would be back by the time the new school year began. But a recent surge in cases of the virus at various spots across the U.S. has again created murky waters for collegiate sports.
As pessimism has grown, the first domino to fall came a couple weeks ago, when the Ivy League became the first conference to postpone fall sports for all eight of their schools. Many might remember that the Ivy League was also the first to cancel their college basketball conference tournaments when the virus was first emerging in the U.S. in March.
Just a day after that announcement, the Big Ten made waves of their own by switching to a conference-only schedule for all fall sports. This includes men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and field hockey. Of course, also impacted is the ultimate money-maker for college sports: football.
“We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority,” the Big Ten said in a statement.
“To that end, the Big Ten Conference announced today that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to Conference-only schedules in those sports.
“By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic.”
The biggest sport impacted by this change is undoubtedly football. Plenty of notable non-conference college football games were on the docket this fall for the Big Ten, including Michigan at Washington on Sept. 5, Ohio State at Oregon the following week, Michigan State hosting Miami on Sept. 26 and Wisconsin matching up with Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in October.
The loss of these games have significant impacts financially, but so do the other non-conference games lost, particularly for the Big Ten’s smaller school opponents. Nearly 30 FBS teams, and eight FCS teams had their schedules impacted through the adjustment made by the Big Ten. Six FBS schools – Ball State, Bowling Green, BYU, Central Michigan, UConn, and Northern Illinois – were all slated to play two different Big Ten opponents in the non-conference portion of the season.
Many of these schools receive significant money to travel and play in opposing Big Ten Stadiums, and for many FCS schools, that money makes up a significant portion of their athletic budget for the year. With that money lost, and financial struggles already occurring due to the pandemic, times may only get tougher for lower-level schools.
Several schools across all divisions have already had to cut athletic programs, and unfortunately that trend could become even greater with limited or no fall sports.
With a conference-only schedule, the Big Ten and commissioner Kevin Warren eliminate long-distance travel and allow for universal testing within the conference if necessary. The hope is that the in-conference schedule can be played, but even that was left up for debate.
“As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts, we are also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate,” the Big Ten’s statement concluded.
Just a day after the announcement from the Big Ten, the Pac-12 followed suit, establishing a conference-only schedule for their season as well. While the other Power 5 conferences – ACC, SEC, and Big 12 – continue to monitor the situation, it is likely they will follow the same path sooner than later.
However, several smaller conferences have already decided to follow the lead of the Ivy League in postponing fall sports outright, including the MEAC, Patriot League, CAA, and SWAC. While hope remains that other conferences do not take these measures, it is beginning to fade with every day we get closer to the season.
Voluntary summer workouts continue at some schools, while others – including Big Ten power Ohio State – have had to shut workouts down due to COVID-19 outbreaks. If play does indeed take place in the fall, the Big Ten will give players the option of whether or not they want to play. If they choose not to, their scholarship will still be honored and they will remain in good standing with the school.
The immediate financial impacts and effects this is having on current players is clear. But what is not is what will happen in the future. Is it possible fall sports are delayed just a couple months? Will they be played in the spring instead? Or will the season be lost totally?
What about eligibility and how this will also affect the recruiting process? Or NFL Draft stock if seniors are not able to play?
These are just a few questions we will find out the answers to in the coming weeks, but it is clear the NCAA has a very difficult situation on their hands.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought about uncertainty in numerous facets of life, but sports, and specifically college athletics, have felt that uncertain impact more than ever.
