Hunter/Big Ten release
08/23/21
The Big Ten Conference has issued a media statement on its forfeiture policies for contests in the 2021-22 school year.
The release, issued Monday, says “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.’”
The University of Iowa only had a few instances last school year when they had to cancel or postpone a contest due to COVID cases among its athletes.