The conference announced that, if it is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to conference-only schedules in those sports for 2020.
For most Big Ten football teams, the cancellation of non-conference games in 2020 knocks out a trio of home contests at the beginning of the season.
From ESPN: “If college football can be played this fall, Big Ten presidents and athletic directors prefer playing a conference-only schedule, which would eliminate some long-distance travel and help ensure that their teams are being tested for the coronavirus universally. …
MORE: Why a conference-only schedule is the only hope for college football
“Some Big Ten schools preferred playing only conference foes with one additional non-league game — which would preserve some of the marquee non-Big Ten matchups — but there is overwhelming support for a 10-game conference-only schedule.”
Which means high-profile matchups like Ohio State at Oregon, Notre Dame at Wisconsin, Michigan at Washington, Iowa State at Iowa, Penn State at Virginia Tech and Miami at Michigan state are off the table for 2020.
Organized by school, below are all of the 2020 college football games that will be canceled by the Big Ten’s decision to play a conference-only schedule in 2020.
Canceled 2020 college football games for each Big Ten team
Illinois
Sept. 4: vs. Illinois State Sept. 12: vs. UConn Sept. 19: vs. Bowling Green
Indiana
Sept. 12: vs. Western Kentucky Sept. 19: vs. Ball State Sept. 26: at UConn
Iowa
Sept. 5: vs. Northern Iowa Sept. 12: vs. Iowa State Sept. 26: vs. Northern Illinois
Maryland
Sept. 5: vs. Towson Sept. 12: vs. Northern Illinois Sept. 19: at West Virginia
Michigan
Sept. 5: at Washington Sept. 12: vs. Ball State Sept. 19: vs. Arkansas State
Michigan State
Sept. 12: at BYU Sept. 19: vs. Toledo Sept. 26: vs. Miami
Minnesota
Sept. 3: vs. Florida Atlantic Sept. 12: vs. Tennessee Tech Sept. 26: vs. BYU
Nebraska
Sept. 12: vs. Central Michigan Sept. 19: vs. South Dakota State Sept. 26: vs. Cincinnati
Northwestern
Sept. 12: vs. Tulane Sept. 19: vs. Central Michigan Nov. 14: vs. Morgan State
Ohio State
Sept. 5: vs. Bowling Green Sept. 12: at Oregon Sept. 19: vs. Buffalo
Penn State
Sept. 5: vs. Kent State Sept. 12: at Virginia Tech Sept. 19: vs. San Jose State
Purdue
Sept. 12: vs. Memphis Sept. 19: vs. Air Force Sept. 26: at Boston College
Rutgers
Sept. 5: vs. Monmouth Sept. 12: vs. Syracuse Sept. 19: at Temple
Wisconsin
Sept. 12: vs. Southern Illinois Sept. 19: vs. Appalachian State Oct. 3: vs. Notre Dame (at Lambeau Field)
The Big Ten’s decision impacts 36 opposing programs across both the FBS and FCS, including six teams (Ball State, Bowling Green, BYU, Central Michigan, UConn and Northern Illinois) that had two Big Ten opponents on their 2020 schedules.
