Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The Hilltop

SPORTS

Big Ten Football Announces October Return; Stars Opting Back In

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields will make his return October 24 versus Nebraska to begin the Buckeyes’ bid for another College Football Playoff appearance. Photo: Jay Laprete/AP

By Aidan McHenry, Staff Reporter

The Big Ten Conference reversed its original postponement of the fall football season on Sept. 16, 2020. Teams will now begin to play football on Oct. 24.

All teams will compete in conference-exclusive schedules.

Following the announcement, multiple Big Ten stars, who had originally opted out of the season to prepare for the NFL draft, have opted back in. The two biggest names to do so are Ohio State’s right guard, Wyatt Davis and cornerback Shaun Wade.

Minnesota’s potential first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman has expressed a desire to return, but his NCAA eligibility has been compromised because he hired an agent.

With the Big Ten’s return, star quarterback Justin Fields and Ohio State re-entered the College Football Playoff picture. They were amongst the favorites for the national title before the Big Ten’s postponement.

Another potential first-round pick, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, a key player to their defense, opted out. He has not made any official announcements since the season was reopened, but head coach James Franklin has left the door open for him if he decides to return. Parsons, like Bateman, has hired an agent, therefore the NCAA must reinstate him if he elects to return. If he decides to continue training for the NFL Draft, his presence will surely be missed by the Nittany Lions’ defense.

The other Big Ten players who opted out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft are Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore, Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater, and Michigan cornerback Ambry Thomas and offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield.

According to Sports Illustrated, Mayfield, Thomas, and Slater all have hired agents. Moore has less standing in the way of a return without an agent if he decides to opt back in. He is another projected high round draft pick out of the Big Ten. In Moore’s opt-out announcement, he added that he would be on track to graduate by December, despite being only a true junior. Upon graduation, he would be eligible to participate in Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Bateman, Parsons, Moore, Slater, Thomas, and Mayfield have big decisions with a renewed Big Ten football season on the horizon.

Fields started a petition to reinstate the Big Ten season in August, and now it’s back, and he once again has a chance to win the national title he was one game away from in December 2019.

Advertisement

You May Also Like

NEWS

Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency Agency (DOGE) have faced backlash for their access to millions of Americans’ financial data.

Variety

Season 7 of the CW’s “All American” premiered last Monday. A conversation with the showrunners and cast unpacked new storylines and their commitment to...

NEWS

Across the nation, individuals gathered on Feb. 5 to protest against Project 2025 and advocate for the welfare of Americans.

NEWS

President Donald Trump granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection access to once protected environments. Vandalism occurred at Howard after...

SPORTS

The Washington Capitals awarded members of the Howard figure skating team with exclusive Black History Month jerseys.

Variety

Christie Dashiell, an alumna and professor at the College of Fine Arts, received a nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

NEWS

President Donald Trump makes strides in delivering on campaign promises to fire FBI agents involved in the investigation of Jan. 6 uprising.

Columns

Despite today’s turbulent social climate, protest anthems have faded from mainstream music. Shaped by capitalism, streaming trends and societal shifts, the industry now seems...

SPORTS

The Howard men’s basketball team has committed their social justice project to providing resources and support for mental health.

SPORTS

For National Girls & Woman Sports Day, Hilltop sports writer Armani Durham highlights standout female athletes at Howard.