Thursday, August 13, 2020

Big Ten postpones 2020 Season

The announcement of the Big Ten's decision to postpone the 2020 football season to the spring has rocked the sports world, and there is a very small (minuscule) chance that the decision could result in a major conference shakeup that could result in with the long-rumored "super conference" arriving.

I have no idea what to really believe as some have reported a 12-2 vote with Nebraska and Iowa voting to play the season and others noting that Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan with the other two have looked into playing the season elsewhere.
I wouldn't think that the fifty million dollars and being removed from the conference would make a departure for any school likely, but one never knows in these matters.
If someone is smelling weakness in new Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren and think that the money that makes the Big Ten the top money-making conference (per team) is going to be reduced, perhaps someone would test the waters in an unlikely scenario.

Should that team exist, I would think that it would be the Cornhuskers of Nebraska.
Nebraska seemed to be a fit for the Big Ten athletically and geographically when they were admitted to the league, but it's never seemed to click for the Huskers, who haven't competed as well as expected on the gridiron and for the league, who didn't pay for the market of Omaha as their reason for adding Nebraska.
This could be something that could shake up the alignment of college football eventually, although not right away.
Nebraska wouldn't be a huge loss, but imagine if Ohio State and Penn State walked away?
And imagine the effects on recruiting as the playing conferences use this against the Big Ten that "doesn't value" football?
All of these are long shots, but long shots do occasionally connect.

I'm doubtful that spring football accounts to much, perhaps a few glorified scrimmages.
In the big scheme, the need is for a full and normal season in the fall of 2021, and should something happen in the spring, it could take its toll on the players during the fall season.

I'm not sure what to think about all of this.
If the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all play their season without incident, the schools that postponed are going to look very bad.
It would be a better choice to buy a month or so and then see what happens, but I suppose the Big Ten and Pac 12 have their reasons for throwing in the towel a little early.
If the eventual end to this season is the three conferences that are trying to play eventually cancel, the Big Ten will be looked at as forward-thinking and ahead of the curve.
However, the prudent choice might have been waiting with the rest and the decision made on Tuesday may be one that is long regretted by many involved.




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