The coronavirus pandemic has claimed its first Big Ten game of the season. Only one game into its 2020 schedule Nebraska football will lose a key game against their West division rival. A Halloween matchup between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Cornhuskers has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Wisconsin football program.
The game will not be rescheduled.
Nebraska loses key matchup
The troubles began Sunday night when reports began to surface that Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz had tested positive for the virus. On Monday, Badger head coach Paul Chryst voiced his optimism that the game would be played as scheduled. It was later discovered that Chryst was among the 12 players and staff who tested positive, leading to Wisconsin pausing all football operations.
We have paused team activities.
Details: https://t.co/FiIuXVZZ60 pic.twitter.com/RHnXuahyke
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) October 28, 2020
The Huskers will now have a game canceled in two of the past three seasons, the last coming in 2018, in the season opener against Akron. The difference, in 2018 Nebraska was able to find a replacement game in Bethune-Cookman, who the Cornhuskers took care of handily.
There were concerns trying to fit eight games into an eight-week schedule. Now it looks like it will cost the Huskers and Badgers a game. If only there was a plan to start the season earlier and maybe have set gaps set in place for teams to reschedule if issues such as this came about.
The football schedule starts as early as the weekend of Sept. 5 with final games slated for Nov. 21 to align with academic calendars. The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains scheduled for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium, though it could be moved as late as Dec. 19. pic.twitter.com/vWp3OSifBc
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 5, 2020
After college football went on for weeks successfully, the Big Ten wanted to get back into the mix. Over 35 games had been canceled or rescheduled before the Big Ten returned. The new system the conference implemented had little to no wiggle room for error. Issues such as this were inevitable.
There will be multiple cancellations
It is likely this will not be the only cancellation during the 2020 season for the Big Ten. If Ohio State has a game or two canceled, it could cost the conference a playoff birth. The rest of the Big Ten should take this as a warning that COVID is still here and very prevalent.
Now, Nebraska football will be without one of its key matchups in 2020. Husker fans had this game circled on their calendar. After last week’s game against Ohio State, many seemed optimistic the Huskers could take care of business when Wisconsin came to town.
Nebraska’s next scheduled game will take place on Nov. 7 at Northwestern. The Huskers will have to wait an additional two weeks before their home opener. At least for one week, it felt like football was back for Husker fans.