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Wisconsin Football: What happens if a game gets canceled?

By Christian Borman

Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; A general view of the Big Ten logo prior to the game between the Buffalo Bulls and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; A general view of the Big Ten logo prior to the game between the Buffalo Bulls and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Big Ten and Wisconsin football are back this week, but what happens if a game needs to get postponed?

When the Big Ten announced that it would be back this fall, Wisconsin football fans rejoiced! I know when the third and final schedule came out, I was so excited that I didn’t really think about what would happen if a team had to postpone a game. In the new schedule, there are no bye weeks. This is because the Big Ten wanted their teams to get as many games in as possible before the College Football Playoff committee decided which teams would make the CFP.

This allowed Big Ten teams to play in eight regular-season games and then a ninth game as the Big Ten Championship and a division crossover game for teams that didn’t make the Championship Game.

While it’s great that Big Ten teams are getting to play more games, that brings up a bit of a problem. If a Big Ten team can’t play a particular week because of COVID, what will they do? There are no weeks available for makeups and the CFP selection show will be on Sunday, December 20th. The Big Ten Championship is the day before.

Without a week for makeup games, there’s a chance that if games can’t be played, they’ll just have to be canceled. That would surely weaken a team’s chance to make the CFP if they play fewer than their nine games. It could also create an issue with the standings within the Big Ten. This schedule brings excitement for Wisconsin football fans, but some concerning issues as well.

Badgers Wire writer Ben Kenney made a good point on Twitter, regarding the schedule issues.


COVID is on the rise in the U.S. still, particularly in Wisconsin. Other schools are having issues with the virus right now as well. Michigan students are currently under a stay-in-place order, but its college athletics are still able to play games. Purdue’s head coach Jeff Brohm has tested positive and Minnesota’s coach PJ Fleck has said they have “some number” of players who have it.

While it has stayed away from Wisconsin for now, it feels like it could pop up out of nowhere and derail Wisconsin’s season. Hopefully, the Wisconsin football team will be able to avoid the virus, but it is something Badger fans will have to keep in the back of their minds.