The Big Ten is Back: Nebraska is No Longer Football-less

COVID-19 did its best to stop Big Ten sports this year, but the energy, passion and fight brought it back. Starting Oct. 24, football is back in business in Neb. and across the Big Ten. After President Donald Trump made the initial push for the Big Ten to bring football back, the Big Ten presidents and conference council decided to hold a nine-game season. But don’t grab your tickets and pack your bags; fans will not be allowed in any stadiums. Couches with your own snack foods are more convenient and more comfortable anyway, right?

The Big Ten is back, but at what cost? The conference has already announced the exhaustive safety requirements. Daily antigen testing and enhanced cardiac screening are just a few of the mandated requirements for this challenging year of college football. Every personnel who plans to be on the field is required to be tested before the game. If their antigen test is positive, they are required to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test, which is considered to be more accurate. If that test is positive, they are immediately removed and isolated to prevent contamination of others. They will not be allowed back to a game for 21 days, even though the CDC gives 14 days as the requirement. In addition, each institution in the Big Ten conference must designate a Chief Infection Officer to ensure the safety of all personnel during this challenging time. 

You may find all of this COVID-19 talk to be discouraging. But we have to make the best of what we have. Turn on your TV, set up the channels, grab your jalapeño poppers and pizza, pour the chips and dip into a bowl, find the comfy seat on the couch, turn up the volume and enjoy some college football in the great state of Neb.. The Cornhuskers can hear you from your room, I promise you. So cheer, and cheer loudly with your Neb. Cornhusker pride. Football is back, baby!

Joel Shetler is a Junior

Science Ed. Major from

Ruckersville, Virginia