The Big Ten has just sent a strong message across the league. If a team could not push through with a scheduled contest due to COVID-19, that team will have to forfeit that game without the benefit of it being deferred to a later date.

Here's the official statement released by the Big Ten Monday morning.

“In collaboration and communication with the Big Ten Conference Athletic Directors, Chancellors and Presidents, the Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Sports Medicine Committee – effective today – the conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled. That contest shall be considered a loss for the team impacted by COVID-19 and a win for its opponent in the conference standings. If both of the two competing teams are unable to participate in a scheduled Conference competition due to COVID-19 and as a result the competition is unable to occur on the calendar day on which it is scheduled, the competition shall be considered a ‘no contest.'”

Back in the 2020 college football season, the Big Ten was forced to delay the start of the campaign because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Big Ten teams also had to eliminate games against teams outside of the conference as part of precautionary measures.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to defend the conference title they won in 2020 when they beat the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten Championship Game.