Following the Big Ten and Pac-12 postponing their fall sports seasons last week, NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline said there’s no way to go forward with fall sports if COVID-19 testing remains the same. Hainline’s comments are in opposition of the other three Power 5 conferences that are still planning to play the football season.
If the SEC shelves its football season, LSU President Thomas Galligan said the school could lose between $60 million to $80 million. Last month, Clemson leaders said it could lose up to $100 million with no ACC football season.
Schools within the Big Ten and Pac-12 are preparing for similar losses. For now, the SEC and ACC are still moving forward with plans for a fall football schedule.
As conference and school administrators discuss if sports will be played or not, some players are voicing their opinions. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields launched a petition to reinstate the Big Ten season. By Sunday afternoon it had more than 150,000 signatures.
Big Ten Football Numbers:
$952 million: Big Ten revenue generated from football.
$275 million: Big Ten football ticket sales.
$104 million: Potential loss for Ohio State without football in the academic year — most in the Big Ten.
$49 million: Potential loss for Rutgers, the other end of the spectrum.
