Photo Courtesy of Maryland Football

After increasing speculation the past few days, earlier today the Big Ten officially appear plans to resume the football flavor beginning the weekend of Oct 23. The vote conducted by the Big 10 Presidents and Chancellors Quango was unanimous.

"Our focus with the Task Force over the last six weeks was to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes," Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement. "Our goal has e'er been to return to competition so all student-athletes can realize their dream of competing in the sports they honey."

With the resumption of the season officially announced, there are several of import components to the proclamation. Offset, beginning on September 30 all athletes, coaches, trainers and anyone else who's on the field for practices will be tested daily. If a student athlete tests positive, the earliest possible return appointment is 21 days afterwards. Additionally, if a squad'south positivity is 5% or greater practices will be halted for a week minimum.

Some other challenge in the Big Ten's plans for restart involved the link between positive COVID-19 diagnosis and potential long-term cardiac issues for higher athletes. However, the conference announced specific cardiac related rubber measures. Any student athlete who tests positive for COVID will undergo cardiac testing and must be cleared by a cardiologist earlier returning to play.

On September iii, Maryland Athletics announced they were halting practices every bit 46 athletes across 10 different teams tested positive. Since that declaration, football game has resumed practise as well as 12 other teams. While the Terps official schedule has not been released notwithstanding, the team will play a 9-game regular season schedule. All 14 teams in the briefing will play a nine-game schedule. The 12 teams non participating in the Big Ten Championship game volition face the corresponding team in the other segmentation for the 9th and concluding game of the season.

While the Big Ten has not yet made a decision on all other fall sports, the conference announced a conclusion on the remaining fall sports should exist coming out soon. However, Commissioner Warren said that all fall sports athletes will have admission to daily testing.