How the Big Ten changed its mind three times and altered the outcome of the 2020-21 CFB season Photo: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports On August 11th, 2020, the Big Ten announced that it was cancelling its fall football season. It was the first Power 5 league to do so. The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been at the center of every decision we have made regarding the ability to proceed forward. As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall. – Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren