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B1G announces COVID-19 forfeit policy for 2021-22 season
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Five days until the first B1G football game is scheduled to kick off, the conference has released its policy for situations in which COVID-19 impacts an athletic contest.
Monday morning, the conference released a statement addressing its policy for games that cannot be played because of issues with the virus. If one team cannot participate, that squad will forfeit and it will be considered a loss in the conference standing.
If both teams are unable to compete, the game will be ruled a “no contest.” Games will not be rescheduled, per the release. From the B1G:
In collaboration and communication with the Big Ten Conference Athletic Directors, Chancellors and Presidents, the Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Sports Medicine Committee – effective today – the conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled. That contest shall be considered a loss for the team impacted by COVID-19 and a win for its opponent in the conference standings.
If both of the two competing teams are unable to participate in a scheduled Conference competition due to COVID-19 and as a result the competition is unable to occur on the calendar day on which it is scheduled, the competition shall be considered a “no contest.”
The first B1G football game of the season is scheduled for this weekend, with Nebraska playing Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB