President Donald Trump has inserted himself into the discussion to resurrect the Big Ten’s fall football season. Trump called Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren yesterday after a White House representative reached out about how the conference can return to playing college football.
While Trump called the conversation “very productive,” the decision to play isn’t his, nor is it up to Warren, school athletic directors or even football coaches. Instead, it’s up to the university presidents who voted 11-3 last month to postpone the season, as noted in a response to a lawsuit filed against the conference by several Nebraska football players.
Ohio State President Kristina Johnson — who voted against postponement, along with Iowa and Nebraska — said she’s hopeful a season will be played this year. The Big Ten said it’s “exhausting every resource to help student-athletes get back to playing.”