Big Ten Football Season Starting on Oct. 10 Reportedly 'Ain't Happening'

Big Ten fall sports have been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but murmurs about bringing the 2020 football campaign back to life have occurred over recent days.

However, it appears unlikely the conference will start play anytime soon, per a report from Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports:

Sports radio host Dan Patrick previously reported the Big Ten was looking at a potential Oct. 10 start for football if the conference could "pass updated safety measures and procedures."

The ACC, Big 12 and SEC, three of the Power Five conferences, will begin play later this month. Along with the Big Ten, the Pac-12 has also postponed fall sports, with the possibility of playing the season in the spring if it's safe to do so.

The call to have Big Ten football has grown louder since the conference's Aug. 11 postponement. Parents of Big Ten football players have written letters, gone to the conference's Chicago headquarters and released statements about their displeasure regarding the call, and even President Donald Trump has gotten involved.

Of note, Trump spoke with commissioner Kevin Warren about getting the Big Ten back on the field, and a tweet from the President stated the two had a "productive conversation."

Word has emerged in recent days of a potential plan to start an eight-game regular season beginning around Thanksgiving, per Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and Mark Schlabach, a start in early January preceding an eight- or nine-game season in indoor facilities only is also a possibility.

"It may be a little earlier, but around January," Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez told ESPN.

"We may try to start earlier. We're talking to all of the TV people, trying to get all of the information and see what fits. We still have to go through our chancellors and presidents to OK it."

We'll see if Big Ten football happens in the coming months, but it looks as though the conference won't see play until at least November.