That is despite multiple NCAA FBS games being played last weekend while schools from the SEC, ACC and Big 12 gear up to join the fray by the end of the month and the University of Cincinnati set to to open their season at home Sept. 19.
Ohio high schools have been in action across the state for the past two weeks, and Michigan recently reversed a decision not to play high school football there this fall.
However, national radio host Dan Patrick reported Tuesday morning the Big Ten’s northern neighbor schools are part of a group that is not willing to play this fall.
80 years have passed since a September without @OhioStateFB https://t.co/fWopb4quXu
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) September 8, 2020
“The Big Ten is still up in the air,” Patrick told listeners. “There is still a pushback from the medical community in the Big Ten to not play, and I was told they simply don’t have enough teams to play.”
He listed Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Illinois, Maryland and Rutgers as being out at this point.
“Now I’m told the medical community with the Big Ten is pushing toward November now. It was Oct. 10. That was the target date so they could get in a 10-game schedule and qualify for the postseason. I don’t think that’s gonna happen.”
New Ohio State president Kristina Johnson told a Columbus TV station last week she sees a pathway to the Buckeyes taking the field this fall, though she noted “fall” technically lasts until December.
Spring, winter and late fall have all been floated as possible start dates for Big Ten football, though it is likely the league would need to have its teams on the field in October in order to be considered for the College Football Playoff, which is set to choose its field in the second half of December and hold semifinals at the Rose and Sugar Bowls on Jan. 1.
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