By Michael Bacon
The Big 10 canceled its football season today, becoming the first major college football conference to slash its fall plans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The predominantly Midwestern conference, which has 14 member schools and boasts some of the biggest names in college sports, including Maryland, decided the risks were too great to play even a limited, all-conference season.
“As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren in a press release.
The statement did not confirm any plans for the fall sports to be played in the spring. While football is the main fall sport for the Big Ten, the decision also affects men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.
“The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports, including the possibility of competition in the spring,” the statement read.
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