One month after postponing their fall football season due to COVID-related concerns regarding testing, contract tracing, and myocarditis, the Big Ten is ready to return to the gridiron. University presidents and chancellors from each of the conference’s 14 members have voted to return to play with a tentative start date of Saturday, Oct. 24, after hearing from the medical subcommittee of the Big Ten’s Return to Competition Task Force over the weekend.
What changed? According to the official statement from the Big Ten, the availability of daily antigen testing, enhanced cardiac screenings, and an enhanced data-driven approach to making decisions about practice and/or competition.