The Big Ten on Wednesday released a revised football schedule with added flexibility in hopes of playing the full 10-game, conference-only slate in 2020.
The regular season opens on Sept. 3 and runs through Nov. 21, with the league championship game scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Each team has two open weeks. Also, the entire conference has an open date on Nov. 28, allowing for the ability to shift games from Weeks 1 and 2 to later in the season if necessary due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Big Ten title game also can be pushed back as late as Dec. 19.
The football schedule starts as early as the weekend of Sept. 5 with final games slated for Nov. 21 to align with academic calendars. The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium, though it could be moved as late as Dec. 19. pic.twitter.com/vWp3OSifBc
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 5, 2020
The season kicks off with Ohio State playing at Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 3. Key dates include Michigan playing at rival Ohio State on Oct. 24, instead of the traditional Thanksgiving weekend.
The Big Ten also announced that its medical protocols will include twice-weekly coronavirus testing using a third-party lab to maintain “consistency in surveillance and pre-competition testing.”
–Field Level Media ()