Huskers and Hawkeyes reportedly are B1G schools wanting to play

The future of the 2020 college football season currently hangs in the balance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the scheduling changes that were made throughout late July and early August, reports on Sunday indicate the season might be canceled. Although it appears those representing Nebraska are fighting to the end to try to change that.

Reports indicated that Big Ten presidents “wanted to gauge” if administrators of other conferences at the Power Five level — the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC — would do the same as them and lean towards “pulling the plug” on the season. Citing sources, ESPN said a “vast majority” of Big Ten presidents would vote to suspend the football season, potentially deferring for the spring. 

National sports broadcaster Dan Patrick went a step further on his radio show on Monday, citing a source saying the Big Ten is expected to cancel its 2020 season on Tuesday. He then added that the league’s 14 schools held a vote on the season and only two of those schools voted in favor of playing this season. Those schools were Iowa and Nebraska. On the show, Patrick shared information on a conversation that he had with the source that told him about the Big Ten’s stance.

“The Big Ten and Pac-12 will cancel their football seasons tomorrow,” Patrick said. “The ACC and the Big 12 are on the fence. The SEC is trying to get a delay to have teams join them (and play.) The SEC is looking at exclusive TV contracts. Then I followed up with my source and I said, ‘So the Big Ten and Pac-12 cancel tomorrow?’ ‘That’s what I’m told this morning. Three Big Ten teams that I’ve spoken with said it’s done.’”

Big Ten players from other schools have certainly been stood in favor of playing too – including Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, one of the most high-profile players in college football right now. But it will come down to what school leaders and the league’s commissioner Kevin Warren say.

Many key Husker players have been vocal about their want to play, taking to social media early in the week to say such even before the #WeWantToPlay movement gained steam nationally over the weekend.

Some parents have expressed their support of playing too, with Mike Henrich, the father of Nebraska redshirt freshman linebacker Nick Henrich, tweeting on Monday, “As a father of two college football players, one of whom already had Covid, I am 100% in favor of letting them play if they choose. They are getting tested twice a week, monitored by professionals daily with every precaution. Take away football, that goes away and cases go up.”

A similar sentiment was coming from across the border.

On Sunday night, Maurice Goodson, father of Iowa starting running back Tyler Goodson, sent a letter to 247Sports from parents of Hawkeyes voicing support of a 2020 college football season. In the letter, he talks to Iowa fans, administration and the college football community and says that Iowa parents believe a 2020 fall college football season should go on. The letter was widely endorsed by several parents of current Iowa players. 

“As parents of Iowa football players, we strongly advocate for conference unity in regards to health standards and protocols in place,” the letter read. “We believe that with regular testing, surveillance and self-control that a safe, fun and productive college football season can occur. While we fully support any player who chooses to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, this doesn’t represent the majority of players. Our boys work hard 12 months out of the year, so that they can play the game they love 12 or 13 times in a college football season. Our boys’ work deserves to be rewarded and their talents be recognized. 

“We understand and respect that our views are likely not going to be shared by everyone across the country, however, as parents of Iowa players, we stand by our boys. We believe that the medical personnel, Iowa coaching staff and the University of Iowa have our best interests at heart and will take care of them before, during and after the season.”