Nebraska had a nonconference opponent lined up to play at Memorial Stadium in place of Wisconsin, which canceled Saturday's slated game due to a rise in positive COVID-19 tests in its program.Â
The Big Ten said no.Â
Nebraska officials confirmed Thursday morning that the Huskers explored bringing a nonconference opponent to Lincoln to make up for the cancellation on short notice.Â
“With the cancellation of the game against Wisconsin, we did explore the possibility of securing a nonconference game for Saturday," athletic director Bill Moos and UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green said in a joint statement. "The discussions we had were with teams that had already implemented stricter testing protocols than those mandated by the Big Ten Conference. Those details were non-negotiable if we were to bring a nonconference opponent to Lincoln. Â
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“At Nebraska, we will always make decisions based on what is best for our student-athletes, and to provide them with the best possible experience during their college careers. To this point, the young men in our program have worked hard to prepare for the football season and have made the necessary sacrifices in order to play in this unusual environment. With an already shortened season, we owed it to our student-athletes to explore any possible option to play a game this week."
The conference's Council of Presidents and Chancellors, however, voted Thursday morning to maintain the conference-only schedule even though the league does not plan to make up canceled games.Â
“We believe the flexibility to play nonconference games could have been beneficial not only for Nebraska, but other Big Ten teams who may be in a similar position as the season progresses," Moos and Green said. "The ability for all Big Ten members to play a nonconference game if needed could provide another data point for possible College Football Playoff and bowl consideration.
“Ultimately, the Big Ten Conference did not approve our request, and we respect their decision. We are excited to move forward with preparations for the rest of the season, beginning with next week’s game at Northwestern.â€
The opponent that would have come to Lincoln, according to multiple reports, was Football Championship Subdivision member Tennessee-Chattanooga.Â
CBS Sports reported that UTC was set to receive somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 for the game and that the entire team and coaching staff had tested negative for COVID-19 using PCR tests on Wednesday night in preparation for a potential road trip to Nebraska.Â
"We were in talks," UTC athletic director Mark Wharton told CBS Sports. "We went through many levels of approval with the Big Ten. We lost on the final approval."
UTC is scheduled to play the bulk of its schedule in the spring. However, the Mocs played one nonconference game Saturday against Western Kentucky, losing 13-10.Â
Given the game last weekend, UTC clearly had been up and running and practicing.
The Huskers and Mocs had history, too. The two played Sept. 3, 2011, at Memorial Stadium in Nebraska's first game as a member of the Big Ten. NU won 40-7 behind 135 rushing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Taylor Martinez and 364 rushing yards overall.Â
It's no surprise Nebraska was looking for a game. NU pursued the idea of playing an independent schedule when the Big Ten postponed its season earlier this year and also explored the potential of playing nonconference games before the beginning of an October season.
Green and Moos also acknowledged the cancellation, initiated by Wisconsin due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in its program, for the first time.Â
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety and well-being of our Nebraska student-athletes has been our top priority, and we know Wisconsin is operating with the same guiding principle," the statement said. "We wish all of those impacted in the Wisconsin program a quick and full recovery from the virus."
Meanwhile, Wisconsin says the number of active COVID-19 cases within the football program increased to 16 as of Thursday morning.
School officials said they learned of one more positive polymerase chain reaction test result late Wednesday, and that two more were confirmed Thursday. The three additional people to test positive included two staff members and one player.
What people are saying after Wisconsin game canceled
Here's what people are saying following the cancellation of Nebraska and Wisconsin's Halloween game
@ESPNRittenberg
The most precious commodity of this football season is flexibility. The Big Ten lost it Aug. 11. Why there wasn't more of a desire within the league to simply pause and push back the initial start date 3-4 weeks is why we are where we are.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg)
@darrenrovell
Wisconsin announces 12 people have tested positive for Covid-19 since Saturday. It includes head coach Paul Chryst. Game against Nebraska now canceled.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell)
If we are going to wear masks, we should actually wear them.
@jaypo1961
I have to write this or I won't be able to live with myself today. To Nebraska fans: Love your passion. You are always friendly as hell. But not every development/decision by the Big Ten is part of a conspiracy to stick it to your athletic department/teams.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961)
@Prmader22
— P Mader (@Prmader22)
@BadgerFootball
We have paused team activities.
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball)
Details:
@StuartEFagan
In reality, the are catching a break by having a bye week following the Ohio State game. Remember, did not get an entire fall camp to prepare the team for the season. So this bonus week gives them a chance to better prepare for the remainder of the year.
— Stuart Fagan (@StuartEFagan)
@HuskerExtraPG
Just imagine if Florida wasn't back to work this week and Missouri was sitting without a game this weekend...
— Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG)
@HuskerExtraPG
Graham Mertz tested positive 10/24. He can ramp up under B1G rules and play vs. UM 21 days later on 11/14. Anybody whose initial antigen positive came Sunday or later, though, is out for that game.
— Parker Gabriel (@HuskerExtraPG)
Same kind of timeline/complications for any other team that has an outbreak.
@KeithMalinak
So the / game has been canceled.
— Keith Malinak (@KeithMalinak)
Perhaps if the press like , , , & others hadn't spent weeks bashing all things & we'd have more time/flexibility in the schedule.
@DavidEickholt
This is why the Big Ten should have given itself flexibility. Could have shot for 10 games in 14 weeks, if needed.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt)
@HuskerExtraCB
home openers under Scott Frost:
— Chris Basnett (@HuskerExtraCB)
1) Cancelled because of severe weather
2) 66 yards in the second half in a close win over South Alabama.
3) Rescheduled/cancelled 4 times in 3 months because of COVID-19 concerns.
@BarstoolHusker
Mood when this weekends game is canceled 😔
— Barstool 'Skers (@BarstoolHusker)
@HuskerExtraSip
My sense is Nebraska officials won't push back much on the rationale to cancel the Wisconsin game. We'll see on that. Could be wrong.
— Steven M. Sipple (@HuskerExtraSip)
The key question: Is there a possibility of Nebraska playing a non-con foe this weekend? Would the Big Ten allow it?
It SHOULD be allowed.
@HuskersGameday
It is what it is. Time to pull out the video on Northwestern. Next week both teams lose a day due to the election. Time to prepare.
— Huskers Gameday (@HuskersGameday)
@robinsonandrew
Nebraska needs an opponent this week. should play them tomorrow night, pick up $1 million and then head to Provo.
— Andrew Robinson (@robinsonandrew)
@MrOH1O
Wisconsin should be credited with a LOSS
— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O)
(Unless they can prove the number of positive cases is at the threshold that the Big Ten set.)
@ToddMilewski
Official word from the Big Ten: Saturday's canceled -Nebraska game is a no-contest. Doesn't count toward standings.
— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski)
@Sirles71_HSKR
This is exactly why you don’t schedule an 8 games in 8 weeks. I hate everything. This is absolutely ridiculous. see you in Evanston 😔
— Jeremiah Sirles (@Sirles71_HSKR)
@ClayTravis
Remember when all the coronabros in sports media were obsessed with myocarditis & saying CFB had to be canceled because of it? I sure do. It’s way past time for the Big Ten to wipe out the 21 day quarantine.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis)