Big Ten releases schedule for upcoming season

The Big Ten announced that they are planning on playing a ten-game football schedule with each team hosting five home games and playing five games on the road. Ohio State is set to meet Michigan at Ohio Stadium in week eight on Oct. 24. 

It would be the first time since 1933 that the rivals have clashed outside of November. 

There is, however, a notable caveat. 

In the press release making this announcement, the Big Ten said “issuing a schedule does not guarantee that competition will occur.” 

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“This is not a final decision that there will be an athletics season; it is the next phase in our responsible planning process with the Big Ten Conference to be prepared if we are able to have an athletics season,” Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith added. “The final decision will be made in the coming weeks in consultation with local, state and federal authorities.”

To give them the best chance of seeing the season happen, the league is trying to build some flexibility into the schedule. Each team has two bye weeks that can be used as make-up dates for contests that might be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of which, each team has an open week during the week of Nov. 28. 

While the Big Ten Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, it could be moved back as much as two weeks if necessary.

The conference also announced medical protocols for 2020, which they reserved the right to update, but that for now, call for football players to get tested at least twice a week. Testing will be managed by a third-party laboratory to ensure consistency across the conference. 

Ohio State’s 2020 Football Schedule

Sept. 3 – at Illinois

Sept. 12 – Rutgers

Sept. 19 – at Purdue

Sept. 26 – Indiana

Oct. 3 – Open

Oct. 10 – Nebraska

Oct. 17 – at Michigan State

Oct. 24 – Michigan

Oct. 31 – at Maryland

Nov. 7 – at Penn State  

Nov. 14 – Open

Nov. 21 – Iowa

Dec. 5 – Big Ten Championship Game

Stay tuned to 614now.com or follow @LoriSchmidt on Twitter for more updates on Ohio State football, Blue Jackets hockey, and Crew soccer.

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