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First it was the Ivy League, and now it’s the Big Ten.
The Big Ten is expected to announce today that it will go with a conference-only football schedule for this fall, a person with direct knowledge situation tells @TheAthleticCFB.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) July 9, 2020
Now, you’re probably wondering why non-conference games would be more dangerous, and the reason is that while the Big Ten can mandate specific protocols for COVID-19 on its own member schools, it cannot control non-members. What’s more, shortening the season to a 9- or 10-game conference schedule increases flexibility in case they have to take a break.
I remain of the mind that the Power 5 conferences are going to do whatever they need to in order to cash some checks this fall, but this isn’t going to be a normal season.
(Note, of course, that Vanderbilt doesn’t play any Big Ten teams this season so we’re still not affected... yet.)