According to a report from ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg, the Big Ten medical subcommittee will present new testing programs to a number of presidents and chancellors on Saturday, including options that weren’t available when the conference decided to postpone fall sports last month.
Big Ten to hear options for return of fall football https://t.co/Bp5oIHUgA9
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) September 11, 2020
The subcommittee, which is comprised of medical experts and athletic directors, will show eight of the 14 presidents and chancellors at least four different rapid response tests that would allow programs to test daily and decrease contact tracing. A source told ESPN the tests are “light years” ahead of what was available five weeks ago.
Though the presentation could lead to a vote in the near future from the presidents and chancellors to resume the season, it may also end with the medical subcommittee being asked for additional information that could delay any vote.
If the presidents and chancellors do move forward, a source told ESPN the earliest realistic start to the season would be mid-to-late October, depending on how long it takes to approve the return, which test the conference chooses and how quickly supplies can be acquired.
“Someone’s got to be strong and make a decision,” the second source said. “Put a nail in it, put a pin in this thing and let’s go.”
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