Here are the ideas reportedly on the table for a return to B1G football in 2020-21
Things are crazy in the B1G — again.
On Friday, fans were given a renewed sense of hope with Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reporting that B1G head coaches were meeting and discussing a potential plan to play football in the fall. Feldman reported that it was a “real possibility” that the conference could reverse course and still play during the fall season.
And while that’s technically true, it appears that a return to a fall schedule would begin around Thanksgiving. Based on some of the reports from earlier this week, as well as Friday, here’s what is likely to be on the table:
- According to Blue & White Illustrated: An 8-game season that begins the week after Jan. 1, 2021. A “championship game” between the two highest-finishing teams and a potential Rose Bowl Game between the B1G and Pac-12 champions.
- Per Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports: A 10-game conference schedule with a “plus-one” model, beginning closer to Thanksgiving week. (Jeff Potrykus of Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel was first to report).
- Per Thamel: A post-Super Bowl weekend start date, likely with an 8-game schedule
At this time, there does not appear to be a plan that involves the B1G starting a season before the week of Thanksgiving. It would suggest that the conference is still not planning to be part of the College Football Playoff conversation.