Big Ten Suspends Organized Team Activities Until At Least June 1

The Big Ten announced in a statement Monday that it would be extending its suspension of all organized team activities until at least June 1 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The previous timetable for the suspensions was set to expire on Monday.

“This is an additional measure to the previously announced cancellation of all conference and non-conference competitions through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year,” the statement read. ‘The Conference also has previously announced a moratorium on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future.”

There has been talk around the Big Ten, specifically from Iowa president Bruce Harreld, who has said he is expecting all team activities to return on June 1.

“If we’re at that stage with this virus, we’d have to do a lot of testing of the individual players, and I’m not going to go ‘yes or no’ on that. I’m going to refer to the experts,” Harreld said on April 30. “But, right now, June 1 is the date we’re going to get back to practice.”

When speaking to the media, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has said that he believes the team would need six weeks prior to the start of games in order to properly prepare. The Buckeyes’ first game of the 2020 season is set to be against Bowling Green on Sept. 5.

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