Big Ten Conference Suspends Fall Sports Due To Coronavirus Concerns

The entire fall sports schedule of the Big Ten Conference has been suspended.

This action is taken as the count of COVID-19 cases persistently rises across the nation.

Coronavirus cancels college sports

On Tuesday, the presidents and chancellors of the Big Ten’s schools gathered to discuss the situation. Following a bit of discussion, the assembly voted to postpone all fall sports.

Kevin Warren, the Big Ten Commissioner, states that health was the primary factor in the decision.

“Trends have not only failed to improve, but they have also worsened. As you prepare to enter a more formal practice, you’re faced not just with concerns, but also with substantial unknown risks. This becomes especially grave when it involves human health.”

The Big Ten isn’t the only conference grappling with difficult decisions. The MAC, Big South, Mountain West, and Pac-12 conferences have also cancelled their fall sports.

It is likely that more conferences will follow suit.

Indiana’s betting numbers could not be negatively impacted by the absence of college football.

The absence of college football would significantly affect the sports betting industry.

Football is the leading sport for gambling across the US, hence no college betting this fall could severely affect the betting revenue of many states. For instance, Indiana could lose out on potential wagers worth tens of millions of dollars.

The football handle in Indiana almost doubled from June to July, increasing from $630,000 to nearly $1.2 million. Although these figures are expected to continue rising into the fall, without college football games included, Indiana’s football handle won’t be able to achieve its maximum potential.

The Hoosier State may end up missing an opportunity.

This fall would have marked Indiana’s first full football season as a mature market.

Retail sports betting kicked off in the state in September 2019, followed by the introduction of online betting in Indiana a month later. During this period, football was particularly popular. However, the gambling volume in the initial weeks pales in comparison to the sport's projected earnings for this year.

Reaching that potential may have to be postponed until next year now that the Big Ten has postponed its season.

Of course, NFL betting will still be significant, but with both IU and Purdue football not participating, Indiana could potentially fall short of the sports betting figures it had anticipated.

College football this spring?

This will be the first autumn without IU football since 1890 and the first without Purdue football since 1888, as it currently stands.

Even if fall sports have been ruled out, there could still be some hope for the spring.

The Big Ten is contemplating shifting its football season to spring, which would definitely be a deviation from the typical fall schedule.

Nonetheless, not all are as hopeful about the concept of spring football.

Jim Harbaugh from Michigan doesn’t anticipate an improvement by spring, so he is urging for the fall sports season to proceed as scheduled.

Jim Harbaugh has issued a statement. pic.twitter.com/CftMW7d5lC

This was posted by Bruce Feldman on his Twitter account (@BruceFeldmanCFB) on August 10, 2020.

Other conferences are also attempting to find a method to commence activities this fall.

Specifically, the Big 12, ACC and SEC are waiting to assess their options.

Football is particularly significant in the South. If the 2020-2021 season doesn’t occur, it could wreak havoc on communities that are entirely structured around the football culture.

Should football proceed as scheduled this fall, it remains uncertain whether fans would be permitted to attend the games.

Over $600 million is at stake for SEC schools alone, and they are striving to preserve as much of that revenue as they can. Conducting the games, even without spectators, would contribute to saving some of that income.

Nonetheless, waiting for autumn football might be more challenging than it sounds.

Ultimately, the safety of all participants is the top concern for most organizations. With an increasing number of conferences opting for postponement, organizations like the Big 12, ACC, and SEC are likely to face heightened pressure to follow suit.

The possibility of spring football could be as uncertain as the fall season, but currently, it might be college football’s greatest hope.

This is going to be an unusual year for NCAA basketball.

This spring, just as March Madness was about to commence, sports were abruptly put on hold. Without a postseason tournament, NCAA basketball did not crown a champion this year.

The sport is now facing its second consecutive unusual year.

Even though most of the basketball calendar occurs in the winter and spring, the COVID-19 situation will likely disrupt it.

The future of basketball is also uncertain as it overlaps with the fall sports calendar, which has now been postponed.

The decision to postpone all basketball activities until 2021 has already been made by the Pac-12.

The Big Ten, among other conferences, is still assessing their winter sports situations.

The outcome could potentially put the seasons of IU and Purdue at risk.

It’s still uncertain whether winter and spring sports will be cancelled. Additional information will be released in the coming weeks and months as various conferences begin to make decisions.

Until that time, sports enthusiasts will be wishing for the health crisis to begin subsiding by this winter.

If the US remains in its current situation for a few more months, the possibility of spring football and basketball might be completely lost.