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Despite conversations about the B1G starting the college football season around Thanksgiving, it appears that sometime in January will still be the target for the conference to play again.
Sports radio host Dan Patrick is reporting that the B1G will likely not launch the upcoming football season until after the new year, despite coaches and athletic directors discussing a potential Thanksgiving start. It was rumored that a November return was in the conversation among coaches and ADs, which was first reported by Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
“Was told that the B1G Thanksgiving start is a very long shot. More support for late January and an 8-game schedule,” Patrick said on his show Monday. “A number of players will opt out and 2021 fall season will be adjusted with the amount of padded practices and contact. The B1G is trying to save face, but they may miss their window in the fall. Going now only complicates thing.”
Patrick said that the source he has with the information was the same who claimed earlier this month that the B1G and Pac-12 would cancel their football seasons. A day after the report, both leagues opted out.
B1G commissioner Kevin Warren has said he and the conference’s presidents have no plans to revisit the decision about fall football. There have been no concrete plans announced to play in the fall.
"The Big Ten Thanksgiving start is a very long shot. More Support for late January and an 8 game schedule…" Dan has update on why it will be difficult for the Big Ten to come back earlier pic.twitter.com/85Ui7rTY8o
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) August 31, 2020
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