CHAMPAIGN — The Big Ten scrapped the first iteration of its 2020 football schedule when it announced in early July it would move to a conference-only format. Gone were some key nonconference matchups Big Ten wide — think Ohio State-Oregon — and other nonconference dates that might have come in handy for reaching that all important six-win mark.
The Big Ten’s answer to a schedule built entirely of conference games came in early August. A revised 10-game slate was set for each team. The second iteration of the 2020 schedule lasted just six days before the Big Ten announced its fall season wasn’t going to happen because of ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That decision was reversed Wednesday, with the Big Ten setting its sights on an Oct. 23-24 opening weekend. The third iteration of the conference schedule was not released in full,…
