BREAKING: Big Ten Football is Returning October 24

It’s been one month and five days, since the Big Ten announced they were canceling the fall football season. In that time, we’ve laughed (at the B1G) together, we’ve cried together and we’ve watched other power-five football teams kickoff their season, together. Today though, September 16 2020, we celebrate together. Multiple reports have the conference set to announce October 24 as the official return of B1G football, this afternoon.

Good morning, Big Ten fans. Today looks like your day. Sources tell @SInow that a return to fall football is expected to be announced today, perhaps before noon.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 16, 2020

Sources: The Big Ten is coming back and will begin the weekend of Oct. 24. It’ll include daily, rapid testing as a fixture of the plan. A statement from the league is imminent.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 16, 2020

This will give teams a little more than a month to get ready. These programs never advanced to the point of fall camp/padded practices before the postponement. Wisconsin FB is currently in a pause, earliest it can resume activities is Sept. 24.

— Nicole Auerbach ? (@NicoleAuerbach) September 16, 2020

Again, today is a good day so we aren’t going to focus on the fact that we never should have gotten to this point, in the first place. On October 24, Minnesota Gophers fans across the country will be able to turn on their televisions and watch the maroon and gold look to build on last year’s historic season. This was the latest the conference could start football and still be eligible for the National Championship. That means 8 weeks of games and no byes, most likely.

There are a lot of question marks to address on the Minnesota football roster, though. We could see more arise before kickoff one month and two days from now. BUT WHO CARES!

I just can’t wait to see PJ Fleck lead his team through that tunnel. The schedule is yet to be released, but it is rumored to be finished. It’s just a matter of time before the schedule is leaked or gets officially announced. We’ll be here for you when it does.

Until then, we’ll just party. Fall football in October is better than no fall football at all. The Gopher Football twitter account actually teased people yesterday morning (among others), before any announcement was made or any of the big checkmarks jumped on the report.

The Big Ten has now confirmed the return to play as well.

When was the last time that the #Gophers started a football season in October? #TuesdayTrivia

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) September 15, 2020

The Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) adopted significant medical protocols and has voted unanimously to resume the football season starting the weekend of October 23-24, 2020: https://t.co/b5yHShGb1D

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) September 16, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan