The Big Ten has released its 10-game conference-only football schedule that could begin as early as Labor Day weekend, but league officials cautioned there is no certainty games will be played at all this season.
The Big Ten’s schedule announcement, made Wednesday, was the last from the Power Five conferences as college football programs navigate how to play games and prepare for the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re approaching this entire process on a day-to-day basis,” commissioner Kevin Warren said on the Big Ten Network. “We’re gathering medical information daily, we’re communicating with all of our constituents in the Big Ten and communicating with student-athletes. This will not be a straight line this year.”
Under the revised schedule, teams will play conference opponents they originally were set to meet and will have one additional cross-division game.
The regular season starts the weekend of Sept. 5 and runs through Nov. 21. There is a built-in cushion allowing for makeup games to be played, if necessary. The 10 games would be played over at least 12 weeks, with each team having two open dates. Nov. 28 also is available for makeup games.