Big Ten Conference Announces Conference-Only 2020 Schedules For Fall Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Big Ten Conference announced that its schools will play conference-only schedules for sports in the fall of 2020.

The conference made the news official on Thursday, July 9.

“The Big Ten Conference announced today that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to Conference-only schedules in those sports,” the conference said in a statement. “Details for these sports will be released at a later date, while decisions on sports not listed above 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.”

Big Ten Statement on 2020-21 Fall Season:https://t.co/KLjc4mA47h

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) July 9, 2020

“As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts, we are also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.”

On Wednesday, July 8, the Ivy League announced the cancellation of fall sports for its conference. Since then, rumors have surfaced of other conferences joining in or moving football games to the spring of 2021.

Impact On BYU Football

The cancellation of non-conference games impacts the BYU Cougars’ football slate for 2020. BYU was scheduled to play two Big 10 schools this fall.

The first Big Ten matchup on the Cougars’ schedule was scheduled for Week 2 of the college football season. BYU was set to host the Michigan State Spartans at Lavell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, September 12.

.@BYUfootball and @MSU_Football announce a home-an-home series for 2016 & 2020. http://t.co/poqHeHzDnb pic.twitter.com/iYbyh5vf3E

— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) January 21, 2015

Two weeks later, the Cougars were slated to travel to Big Ten country and play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, September 26.

BYU has played Michigan State one time in school history. The Cougars won the only matchup when they traveled to East Lansing in 2016 and beat the Spartans 31-14.

The Cougars have never played against the Golden Gophers.

BYU and the University of Minnesota have agreed to a two-game football series in 2020 and 2025.#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/YKWIvFN9GM

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 26, 2016

Big Ten Conference Schools

The following Big Ten schools were impacted by the cancellation of non-conference games:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• Penn State
• Purdue
• Rutgers
• Wisconsin

Big Ten Non-Conference Football Games Affected

BYU vs. Michigan State and BYU vs. Minnesota aren’t the only two of the non-conference matchups impacted by the Big Ten’s announcement. Here are the other Big Ten non-conference games affected:

Illinois Fighting Illini

• vs. Illinois State on September 4
• vs. Connecticut on September 12
• vs. Bowling Green on September 19

Indiana Hoosiers

• vs. Western Kentucky on September 4
• vs. Ball State on September 19
• vs. Connecticut on September 26

Iowa Hawkeyes

• vs. Northern Iowa on September 5
• vs. Iowa State on September 12
• vs. Northern Illinois on September 26

Maryland Terrapins

• vs. Towson on September 5
• vs. Northern Illinois on September 12
• @ West Virginia on September 19

Michigan Wolverines

• @ Washington on September 5
• vs. Ball State on September 12
• vs. Arkansas State on September 19

Michigan State Spartans

• @ BYU on September 12
• vs. Toledo on September 19
• vs. Miami (Florida) on September 26

Minnesota Golden Gophers

• vs. Florida Atlantic on September 3
• vs. Tennessee Tech on September 12
• vs. BYU on September 26

Nebraska Cornhuskers

• vs. Central Michigan on September 12
• vs. South Dakota State on September 19
• vs. Cincinnati on September 26

Northwestern Huskies

• vs. Tulane on September 12
• vs. Central Michigan on September 19
• vs. Morgan State on November 14

Ohio State Buckeyes

• vs. Bowling Green on September 5
• @ Oregon on September 12
• vs. Buffalo on September 19

Penn State Nittany Lions

• vs. Kent State on September 5
• @ Virginia Tech on September 12
• vs. San Jose State on September 19

Purdue Boilermakers

• vs. Memphis on September 12
• vs. Air Force on September 19
• @ Boston College on September 26

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• vs. Monmouth on September 5
• vs. Syracuse on September 12
• @ Temple on September 19

Wisconsin Badgers

• vs. Southern Illinois on September 12
• vs. Appalachian State on September 19
• vs. Notre Dame on October 3