Big Ten announces conference-only schedule for fall 2020 sports due to COVID-19
If Penn State sports happen this fall, they will be playing conference-only schedules, the Big Ten announced Thursday.
That model will affect men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball for all conference schools. Details for each of those sports will be forthcoming, and decisions on sports not listed will continue to be evaluated.
“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 Big Ten’s statement on the matter read.
The decision comes amid increases in COVID-19 cases across the country that have caused concern about the viability of a college football season. Some schools, including Ohio State, have even paused summer workouts due to positive tests among student-athletes and coaches. The Big Ten said summer athletic activities will continue to be voluntary in all sports currently permitted to engage in such activities.
The Ivy League announced Wednesday that it’s putting all sports on hold until at least Jan. 1, and the ACC said Thursday it’s delaying all sports except football until at least Sept. 1.
Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour in a letter said the conference-only schedule will provide “consistency, clarity and some control over the situation,” and gives the conference its best path forward.
“We remain optimistic about our ability to play sports this fall and in the 2020-21 academic year,” Barbour’s letter read. “We have no doubt it will look, feel and act differently than we have become accustomed to over time. But giving our student-athletes the opportunity to compete in the sport they love and have played their entire lives is important to them individually and us collectively, as well as to the psyche and viability of our community.
“Please have no doubt, it’s not more important than health and safety, but it cannot and will not be easily cast aside.”
The decision, according to the Big Ten, was made after conversations spanning several months between the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, directors of athletics, conference office staff, and medical experts including the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee.
While the decision sheds some light on what the fall sports season might look like, there are still plenty of decisions to make.
“Many details remain to be determined in order to be able to operationalize and move forward with intercollegiate athletic competition beginning in mid to late August,” Barbour’s letter read. “We will begin immediately working with the Big Ten Conference and our fellow Big Ten institutions on the details that will allow us to provide the safest and most healthy environment for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community.”
For Penn State football, the decision means the loss of three nonconference games — Kent State and San Jose State at home and Virginia Tech on the road. The Nittany Lions are currently set to face all six Big Ten East teams as well as three Big Ten West teams: Iowa, Nebraska and Northwestern.
It is not yet clear whether any additional Big Ten games will be added to the schedule. If the conference schedule remained the same, the Nittany Lions would kick off their season Sept. 26 against Northwestern in Beaver Stadium.
Lauren Muthler contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 3:33 PM.
