The Big Ten has voted to cancel the 2020 college football season in a historic move that stems from concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, multiple people with knowledge of the decision confirmed to the Free Press.
The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the decision. A formal announcement is expected to Tuesday, the sources said.
The presidents voted, 12-2, Sunday to end the fall sports in the conference.
Only Nebraska and Iowa voted to play, Dan Patrick said on his radio show Monday. The move comes two days after the Mid-American Conference became the first in the FBS to cancel ts season, and sources say the Big Ten is trying to coordinate its announcement with other Power Five conferences. Sources say the PAC 12 is going to announce cancellation Tuesday. The Big 12 and the ACC are reportedly on the fence, the SEC reportedly wants to play and is trying to get the Big 12 and ACC behind them.
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren prefers a spring football season, although no decision has been made. The cancellation of season comes a week after the Big Ten revealed an updated 10-game conference-only schedule for 2020, and just days after teams in the conference opened fall camp.