Barry Alvarez offers insight into Big Ten scheduling, TV plans for 2020
By SDS Staff
Published:
The Big Ten reversed course on Wednesday, announcing it now plans on holding a 2020 fall football season. The Wednesday announcement came out with a full schedule, but a start date (Oct. 24) and end date (Dec. 19) along with the news that the final weekend will feature all 14 teams in action, not just the conference championship game. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez offered more schedule insight when speaking to reporters.
As was widely reported, the original plan called for an Oct. 17 start date. Big Ten presidents, however, “decided another week [before the season] may answer more questions and allow us to be prepared better.”
The conference is split into two divisions of seven teams each. For the first eight weeks of the Big Ten season, teams will play the six other programs in their division along with two crossover contests. The crossover games are still to be determined.
ESPN could have some new football competition on Monday night. Alvarez shared that FOX has mentioned Friday and Monday as possibilities for Big Ten games. The conference will be “flexible” in scheduling, Alvarez told reporters.
[H/T Adam Rittenberg]
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
