Michigan, Michigan State Football Seasons To Begin In October

MICHIGAN — There will be a Big Ten football season after all. School and conference officials have agreed to restart the Big Ten football season, with the first game expected to begin in October. The Big Ten's football season was previously been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors adopted medical protocols that include daily testing, enhanced cardiac screening and a data-driven approach when making decisions about practice/competition. The council voted unanimously to resume the football season starting the weekend of Oct. 24. The decision was based on information presented by the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force, a working group that was established by the council and Commissioner Kevin Warren to ensure a collaborative and transparent process, according to a news release.

“Our focus with the Task Force over the last six weeks was to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes," Warren said in a statement. "Our goal has always been to return to competition so all student-athletes can realize their dream of competing in the sports they love. We are incredibly grateful for the collaborative work that our Return to Competition Task Force have accomplished to ensure the health, safety and wellness of student-athletes, coaches and administrators.”

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A 'Hot Mic' Leads to Speculation

Speculation surrounding the announcement began Sunday, after university officials discussed advancements made regarding testing for the coronavirus.

Presidents and chancellors of Big Ten schools met on Sunday and heard presentations regarding different medical advances made since the 14-member ruling body of the Big Ten voted 11-3 to delay the fall athletics season Aug. 11.

Speculation grew Tuesday, when Nebraska President Ted Carter, apparently unaware the microphone he was wearing was turned on, said an announcement regarding the Big Ten football season would come late Tuesday. He was making small talk with others ahead of a news conference Tuesday morning when the slip happened, according to KETV in Omaha, Nebraska.

Big Ten Testing Strategy

The Big Ten said it will require its athletes, coaches, trainers and other staff that are on the field for all practices and games to undergo daily antigen testing. Test results must be completed and recorded prior to each practice or game. Student-athletes who test positive for the coronavirus through point of contact daily testing would require a polymerase chain reaction test to confirm the result of the POC test, the conference said in a news release.

Each institution will designate a Chief Infection Officer who will oversee the collection and reporting of data for the Big Ten Conference. Team test positivity rate and population positivity rate thresholds will be used to determine recommendations for continuing practice and competition, the conference said.

All COVID-19 positive student-athletes will have to undergo comprehensive cardiac testing to include labs and biomarkers, ECG, Echocardiogram and a Cardiac MRI. Following cardiac evaluation, student-athletes must receive clearance from a cardiologist designated by the university for the primary purpose of cardiac clearance for COVID-19 positive student-athletes. The earliest a student-athlete can return to game competition is 21 days following a COVID-19 positive diagnosis.

In addition to the medical protocols approved, the 14 Big Ten schools will establish a cardiac registry in an effort to examine the effects on COVID-19 positive student-athletes. The registry and associated data will attempt to answer many of the unknowns regarding the cardiac manifestations in COVID-19 positive elite athletes.