SUNDAY LIVE BLOG: No Vote Taken on Big Ten Football Decision
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Sunday is a huge day for the Big Ten, as the league's presidents and chancellors are meeting to discuss a return of fall football sometime soon.
- MONDAY LIVE BLOG: It's a new day, so here's the latest on the Big Ten moves to a fall football season. There's a lot of new stuff going on, so CLICK HERE
There is news coming from a variety of sources, but we will use this LIVE BLOG to put it all in one spot for you. There's a lot going on, in regards to reviewing new medical reports, discussing the financial impact of missing out on a fall season and more details about what's going on with testing and protocols on each of their 14 campuses.
We will continue to update this blog through the day, so please refresh it when you can and share it with your friends.
Here's the latest:
Meeting over, with no vote taken
7:02 p.m. Sunday: According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, the Big Ten meeting of presidents and chancellors is over, and no vote was taken to play football in the fall. That's disappointing news, but Auerbach thinks a vote is imminent.
" Source tells @TheAthleticCFB that no vote was taken by the Big Ten presidents and chancellors in their meeting today.Though the vote isn't happening tonight, there remains the expectation that this will be brought to a vote in the coming day or days.''
Tom Brew: Guessing on 6 flipped votes
6:38 p.m. ET Sunday: The August votes against playing football in the fall was 11-3, with Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa voting to play. To reverse, they need nine total votes. Where do the other six come from?
If I had to guess, we already know Michigan and Wisconsin want to play. Penn State, too. Indiana and Purdue do, too. Rutgers is out. I worry about Michigan State and Maryland because of their COVID outbreaks. So if someone among Minnesota, Illinois or Northwestern says yes, we're good to go. Just a guess, but I think the votes are there.
ESPN's Rittenberg: Medical community satisfied
5:24 p.m. Sunday: ESPN's Adam Rittenberg tweeted that the Big Ten meeting is still going on, and he said his sources say the medical community is confident that a season is "doable''
"#B1G presidents meeting continues this afternoon. No news yet on a vote, although there's optimism around a return to play. The big change from first time, sources say, is the confidence from Big Ten's medical community that competition is doable, especially with rapid testing.''
Tom Brew: Watching Big Ten football today
4:49 p.m. Sunday: One way to get your Big Ten football fix this afternoon is to watch Tom Brady (Michigan) take on Drew Brees (Purdue) in the Bucs-Saints game. They actually faced off against each other once in a Big Ten game, but it's hard to remember because it was IN THE LAST CENTURY!
Tampa Bay's Tom Brady warms up prior to the Bucs' game with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
Kurt Siegelin, News12NJ: Rutgers will vote no
2:37 p.m. Sunday: News12 New Jersey sports anchor Kurt Siegelin said that Rutgers was still planning on voting no for the return of Big Ten football this fall. He said so in a tweet.
"Every indication is Rutgers will vote no. So does the league continue with only the Yes schools? (Might line up with the shortened schedule if so.) Would RU have any claim to resulting tv money? How could they?"
Tom Brew: Playing into December?
1:54 p.m. Sunday: Just doing the calendar math, if the Big Ten decides to play an eight-game schedule starting on Oct. 17, Week 8 would be Saturday, Dec. 5. That's the date for the Big Ten Championship Game right now. Move it back a week, and we're all good?
Keep in mind, too, that second Big Ten schedule, which was conference games only, was for 10 games, six within the division and four others. Now it would be just two crossover games. Assume the Indiana-Purdue game stays intact, there would be just one other Big Ten West foe.
Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Start season Oct. 17'
12:45 p.m. Sunday: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus is reporting that Big Ten officials are planning on the presidents voting to start the season on Oct. 17.
"From early this AM: The polls remain open but B1G officials are projecting the Council of Presidents/Chancellors will vote to get football up and running on Oct. 17.''
Bobby Carpenter: Put pressure on presidents
12:34 p.m. Sunday: Big Ten presidents don't usually have to deal with much media attention, but they've all been thrown under the bus during the past month from various groups who want to see football in the fall. Former Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter thinks people need to keep the heat of these bosses.
"Ratchet up the heat on all the U. Presidents in the @bigten. People who enjoy living under the umbrella of praise and never have to make difficult decisions do not have the intestinal fortitude to make an indefensible unpopular decision and ride it out.''
SI's Tom Brew: Some myocarditis patients 'back to normal'
11:59 a.m. Sunday: Talked to two sources this morning and both said updated medical information is going to be critical in any decisions made on Sunday by the Big Ten bosses. The myocarditis issues were a big concern in August, and still are. One source says a player who had heart inflammation is doing much better.
"Sources: Updated medical information is critical today for #BigTen presidents. Getting updates on several players who dealt with myocarditis after COVID. Heart inflammation "back to normal'' for some. That enough to sway a half-dozen voters?''
WBNS-TV's Dom Tiberi: Sources say 'expect vote today'
11:44 a.m. Sunday: Columbus, Ohio sports anchor Dom Tiberi says his sources are expecting a vote TODAY from the Big presidents and chancellors.
"Sources tell me they expect a vote today among all Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors. ... Not exactly sure what they will be voting on or what the outcome will be. ... But with out a doubt OSU wants to play in October.... We will see how it shakes out.''
Ohio State's Fields: Still #WeWantToPlay
11:31 a.m. Sunday: Big Ten players are still making their voices heard on Sunday, too. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who has been vociferous on wanting to play from the beginning of this mess, went to Twitter on Sunday morning, too.
"To my Big 10 brothers, do not be discouraged, trust the process and make your voice heard. Let them know #WeWantToPlay."
ESPN's Schefter: Zero positive tests in NFL today
11:08 a.m. Sunday: The Big Ten presidents and chancellors have had the luxury of what's going on elsewhere too. The news Sunday that of nearly 5,000 tests, not a single NFL player or personnel involved with Week 1 games tested positive this weekend. That's further proof that it can be done safely.
"Maybe obvious but still incredible: After testing yesterday, all 3,600 players and team personnel, and another 1,400 gameday assistants, all have been cleared for today’s games, per source. A rather remarkable feat for the league and its players.''
SI's Spath: Michigan prez didn't expect blowback
10:27 a.m. Sunday: Michael Spath of Wolverines Digest, Sports Illustrated Michigan site, tweeted Sunday morning that a source told him that University of Michigan president Mark Schlissel "doesn't have the political capital'' to vote against playing football again.
"From a source this morning on whether Michigan's president will vote to play football: 'He's trying to put out so many fires on campus that he just doesn't have the political capital to deny sports, especially when the blowback was far greater than I think anyone expected.' "
ESPN's Rittenberg: 'Make vote unanimous'
9:49 a.m. Sunday: ESPN's Adam Rittenberg tweeted that he thinks the Big Ten will vote to resume play and also thought making it an unanimous vote would be good for unity
"Not saying this will happen, but if the #B1G presidents vote to resume play (I think they will), they would benefit from a unanimous vote, even if some schools end up opting out. After the ugliest, most divisive month in league history, a united front would be helpful today.''
SI Indiana's Tom Brew: 'Don't assume anything today'
8:55 a.m. Sunday: Here's the link to my Sunday morning column, meant to be a reminder that Big Ten presidents didn't think they made a wrong decision in August, and it might take a lot for them to reverse course today. CLICK HERE
