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Chattanooga AD on B1G denying Nebraska game: ‘We lost on the final approval’
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It appeared that Nebraska had worked out a plan to host the University of Tennessee Chattanooga at Memorial Stadium this Saturday, after Wisconsin, which canceled their slated Saturday contest with the Huskers due to a rise in positive COVID-19 tests within their program.
Multiple sources reported that Nebraska planned to put a proposal to substitute a non-conference opponent before the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors on Thursday morning.
And the Big Ten said no.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which is the same outlet that initially reported the plan, the Council turned down the request, leaving Nebraska with an open week and the game against Wisconsin being ruled no-contest.
Chattanooga Athletic Director Mark Wharton confirmed to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd that the Big Ten denied the request. On Wednesday night the entire UTC team tested negative for COVID-19 using PCR tests. He also confirmed the Free Press’ report regarding the compensation involved, and that UTC would have received between $200,000-$250,000 for the contest, not including travel expenses.
(More UTC-Nebraksa) UTC AD Mark Wharton: "We were in talks. We went through many levels of approval with the Big Ten. We lost on the final approval." Wharton said there were no specifics.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) October 29, 2020
UTC AD Mark Wharton on why Nebraska game was turned down by Big Ten: "All I can do is speculate that they set their schedules … With no byes they didn't have a contingency if they lost games, what they could do. Neb wanted to have a Plan B. We had testing protocols in place."
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) October 29, 2020
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.